After some initial questioning by police, defendants were placed in a transport vehicle and driven to county jail. During this ride, defendants engaged in an
approximately 20-minute
conversation captured by the van’s recording device. This recording was later played for the juries.
During their recorded
conversation, defendants confirmed that they had told the police that they had “heard a shot and ran.” Byrd then asked Ellis about their firearms:
“BYRD: Where did you put the- the- bank?
“ELLIS: They didn’t find them?
“BYRD: They didn’t find none of them?
“ELLIS: I don’t think so – I don’t know.
“BYRD: I think they found one.
“ELLIS: I don’t know.
“BYRD: Nah, they haven’t – they haven’t found the other one.
“ELLIS: What other one?
“BYRD: The Grokett.
“ELLIS: Oh.
“BYRD: You threw that over there by the – by the uh, little creek, huh?
“ELLIS: Yeah.”
P. v. Byrd, First Appellate District, A144835