BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Three sisters were doing an early-morning newspaper route when two men allegedly chased them through Bakersfield, believing the girls had a stolen phone. The chase ended in a fiery crash that killed two of the sisters. Prosecutors say the phone had been sitting in another car the whole time.
Now, one of those men is on trial for murder.
The Charges
Tevin Brandt, 33, faces two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of reckless driving. His trial began Monday.
The crash on March 4, 2023, killed Karime Duarte, 21, and her sister Jennifer Duarte, 15. A third sister, Diana Ponce, now 26, was badly hurt but survived.
A Missing Phone Leads to the Wrong Car
According to courtroom reporting by KGET, Brandt was finishing a night out at bars when he realized his phone was missing. His girlfriend used a tracking app, which led them to the Honda Accord the sisters were using for their newspaper route.
Gustavo Montoya, 31, an Uber driver who had given Brandt a ride earlier that night, also went to the location to help look for the phone. Brandt and Montoya drove there in two separate cars.
The two men allegedly got out and confronted the sisters, who stayed inside their car. Police said the confused girls drove away, and the men got back into their vehicles and chased them.
The Deadly Crash
Police said a high-speed chase followed. The sisters’ car went through a cul-de-sac at the end of McKee Road, hit a ditch and rolled onto Highway 99. A pickup truck struck the Honda, and it burst into flames.
Karime and Jennifer died at the scene.
According to testimony, Brandt walked up to Ponce as she was on her hands and knees in the road, accused her of being a criminal and allegedly told her, “I hope you die.” He then left with his girlfriend.
Police later found Brandt’s phone in a rideshare vehicle, parked where the men had first confronted the sisters.
Former Driver Testifies
Montoya pleaded no contest in October to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and is now a witness against Brandt.
On Thursday, Montoya testified that he saw Brandt bang on the window of the sisters’ car. He also said Brandt “commanded” him to follow the girls. When asked by the public defender why he agreed to help, Montoya said Brandt “did offer a tip.”
What’s Next
Montoya is set to be sentenced on December 16. Brandt’s trial continues on November 18.
Brandt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources:
- KGET 17 News courtroom reporting on Brandt’s trial