In a recent court session, FBI agents provided testimony regarding the investigation of a missing 12-year-old girl, Maya Casey, and the subsequent recovery of evidence related to her case. Special Agent Eli Bowers, who has been with the FBI for over a decade, detailed his role in a task force focused on trafficking and crimes against children. He confirmed that he successfully extracted data from a Samsung Galaxy A14 phone, which was passcode protected, and processed the extraction report on April 24, 2023.

Agent Bowers explained that he received the phone from another agent, Jess Wolcke, and was tasked with extracting data to assist in the ongoing investigation. He utilized specialized software for the extraction and reported no errors during the process. The extracted data was then shared with Agent Jess Wilson.

Supervisory Special Agent Jeremy Jaskolski also testified about his involvement in the case, stating that he investigated the whereabouts of Maya Casey after collaborating with the Detroit Police Department. He confirmed that the girl was located at a residence in Detroit on August 9, 2023, during the execution of a search warrant. Jaskolski described the circumstances of the recovery and identified Keyshaun Petty, who was present at the scene.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Petty had acknowledged his relationship with Maya Casey, claiming he believed she was 18 years old. Jaskolski recounted his interview with Petty, where he obtained consent to search Petty's phone, which was described as a red-cased iPhone, although the phone in question was a Samsung Galaxy. This discrepancy raised questions about the legality of the search and the validity of the consent given.

Defense attorneys argued that the search warrant executed by the Detroit Police Department did not authorize the search of Petty's phone, emphasizing that a separate warrant would be required for such an action. The court was presented with the search warrant, which outlined the investigation's focus on evidence related to Maya Casey's disappearance and potential sex trafficking.

The discussions highlighted the complexities of legal procedures surrounding evidence collection in criminal investigations, particularly in cases involving minors and sensitive allegations. The court's decision on the admissibility of the evidence extracted from Petty's phone remains pending, as the legal arguments continue to unfold.