From Law & Crime · · 2m
Man Chased Sisters After Mistaking Them for Phone Holders
California man chased three sisters delivering newspapers after believing they had his phone, but it was in another car the whole time.
In brief
California man chased three sisters delivering newspapers after believing they had his phone, but it was in another car the whole time. Tevin Brandt, 33, chased three sisters delivering papers in Bakersfield, California, on March 4, 2023, after mistakenly thinking they had his phone, leading to a fatal crash…
Tevin Brandt on trial
Tevin Brandt, 33, faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
March 4, 2023 crash
Tevin Brandt chased three sisters delivering newspapers in Bakersfield, California, after believing they had his phone.
Sisters involved
Karime Duarte, 21, and Jennifer Duarte, 15, died in the crash; Diana Ponce, 26, survived.
Phone tracking
Brandt's girlfriend used an app to track his missing phone, leading him to the Honda carrying the sisters.
Gustavo Montoya
Montoya, 31, an Uber driver, joined Brandt in searching for the phone after Brandt's girlfriend gave him a ride.
Confrontation
Brandt and Montoya confronted the sisters in their car, believing they had his phone, but the girls drove away.
Chase sequence
The sisters lost control of their car, driving through a cul-de-sac, hitting a ditch, rolling onto Highway 99, and being struck by a pickup truck.
Fatal outcome
Karime and Jennifer Duarte died at the scene; Diana Ponce survived the crash.
Brandt's statement
Brandt allegedly told Diana Ponce, 'I hope you die.'
“I hope you die”
Phone location
Brandt later found his phone in a different rideshare vehicle where it had been the whole time.
Montoya's testimony
Montoya pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and testified against Brandt at his trial.
Montoya's role
Montoya testified that Brandt 'commanded' him to follow the sisters before the chase started.
Montoya's sentence
Montoya is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16.
Brandt's trial
Brandt's trial continues on November 18.
The big picture
Tevin Brandt, 33, chased three sisters delivering papers in Bakersfield, California, on March 4, 2023, after mistakenly thinking they had his phone, leading to a fatal crash.
