How did Texas teen Cayley Mandadi die? Her parents find a clue in her boyfriend’s car

This tale firstly aired on Jan. 20, 2024

Cayley Mandadi, 19, was once a sophomore at Trinity College when she was once delivered to a Texas health facility on Oct. 29, 2017. She was once just about bare, bruised and no longer respiring. Her someday boyfriend Mark Howerton informed medical doctors they might taken ecstasy at a song competition and he or she handed out after consensual intercourse in his automotive. She died on the health facility.

In February 2018, government charged Howerton with Mandadi’s homicide, alleging her reason behind demise was once blunt drive trauma to the pinnacle. A yr later, Howerton’s trial ended with a hung jury.

A brand new trial was once set for 2023. Mandadi’s mom Alison Steele and stepfather Lawrence Baitland believed for the second one trial jurors wanted extra details about what came about inside of Howerton’s automotive. Steele, a scientist, and Baitland, a NASA engineer, launched their own investigation.

“I wanted so that you can display the jury what came about to Cayley,” Baitland informed “48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant.

The use of post-mortem pictures and consulting with mavens, they evolved a concept.

Would the couple’s investigation trade the process the second one trial?

CAYLEY MANDADI’S FINAL HOURS

Cayley Mandadi and Taylor Clement, best possible pals since 9th grade, had a streak – Snapchatting each and every morning.

Taylor Clement: Each unmarried day. … She was once a lot more of a morning individual. So I’d get mine very first thing within the morning.

However on Monday morning, Oct. 30, 2017, there was once no phrase from Cayley.

Taylor Clement: I did not get a Snapchat at 8 o’clock within the morning, like I most often do. … That is if truth be told how I knew one thing was once truly improper.

Each excellent scholars, they bonded in science elegance. Clement says she was once straight away attracted to Cayley.

Taylor Clement: She had like, a truly infectious smile and the massive eyes and prefer, the loving center.

The 2 separated to visit other schools. That October morning, Cayley was once on Clement’s thoughts.

Taylor Clement: As I am running within the library, it is behind my head, like, I have never heard from her.

Clement did not understand it, however simply hours previous, Cayley’s mom Alison Steele and stepfather Lawrence Baitland have been woke up at 4 a.m. with scary information.

Lawrence Baitland: “Your daughter’s been serious about some incident, and he or she has been life-flighted to Kyle, Texas.”

They raced from their house in Houston to the health facility, praying Cayley was once OK.

Peter Van Sant: What was once it like while you entered that room? What did you notice?

Alison Steele: I noticed my daughter’s frame smashed.

Lawrence Baitland: I may see that she was once on a ventilator … and my center simply stopped. And I knew that it was once dangerous.

Inside hours, Cayley’s oldsters have been informed there was once no hope for restoration. Their daughter, simply 19 years outdated, as soon as so energetic, was once quickly declared mind lifeless. Baitland and Steele need the sector to understand what came about to her.

Alison Steele: All that doable were destroyed. And no longer understanding the way it came about. Or the way it was once even imaginable.

They invited Cayley’s pals to look her one remaining time. Clement sat with Steele as she held Cayley’s hand and prayed.

Taylor Clement: I be mindful her repeating time and again, “this needs to be for one thing, this needs to be for one thing.”

Cayley had prior to now asked that her organs be donated to lend a hand others. As she was once taken to surgical treatment for that process, her oldsters mentioned good-bye.

Alison Steele: It was once very emotional. … However, in fact, we did not wish to let her pass. However that is what needed to be.

Simply days earlier than, issues gave the impression to be going smartly for Cayley. A sophomore communications main at Trinity College in San Antonio, she had joined a sorority and was once a cheerleader. And he or she’d met a boy.

Alison Steele: Cayley on the time was once very a lot in love with the one severe boyfriend she had ever had. His identify was once Jett Birchum.

Birchum was once a Trinity soccer participant and fraternity brother. Cayley dated him freshman yr, however they broke up.

Alison Steele: What she informed me was once, “I have no idea that he desires a significant courting.” And he or she did.

Taylor Clement: I feel that a part of her lifestyles were given very murky for her very rapid.

There was once some other guy in Cayley’s lifestyles. Mark Howerton was once 22 years outdated and were a celebrity highschool baseball participant.

Howerton lived in Houston however was once regularly on Trinity’s campus visiting pals. That is the place he met Cayley.

John Hunter: I feel that they are each very gorgeous folks and I feel that that was once the principle enchantment.

John Hunter is Howerton’s legal professional.

John Hunter: I feel that there have been issues together with her courting with Jett. … And Mark was once providing a substitute for that.

Each Jett and Mark knew Cayley was once seeing the opposite guy and neither, pals say, appreciated the contest. Then, only one month into this new courting, Mark Howerton rushes Cayley to a small rural health facility in Luling, Texas.

Whilst clinical team of workers tended to Cayley, cops interviewed Howerton within the quietest position they may to find – the health facility chapel. It was once recorded at the officer’s bodycam.

DEPUTY CALENTINE (to Howerton/bodycam video): So inform me, the place have been y’all at as of late?

Howerton informed officials that he and Cayley went to the Mala Luna Tune Competition. There they drank alcohol and took MDMA – a drug referred to as Molly or ecstasy.

Christy Jack is an legal professional primarily based in Fortress Price. “48 Hours” requested her to have a look at recordsdata on this case. She says issues took a troubling flip on the song competition.

Christy Jack: They noticed Jett Birchum sooner or later and started to argue.

Howerton says someday after 4 p.m., he and Cayley left in his Mercedes — nonetheless arguing after Cayley informed him she nonetheless had emotions for Jett.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): I used to be just about announcing … You want to recover from this dude. He ain’t value your time. … your pals are pretend as — I used to be simply telling her all this s*** … I used to be looking to get it thru her head …

Howerton mentioned they then stopped in a carpark the place they’d makeup intercourse.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): We have been having intercourse. I choked her. But it surely wasn’t like I used to be killing her. It wasn’t — it wasn’t like that.

Tough, mentioned Howerton, however consensual.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): 500 p.c consensual.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): Once we had intercourse like she nonetheless talked to me for 5, six, mins afterwards …That is when she was once like, “I am not feeling excellent” however then she simply handed out.

They were given again at the highway. Hours handed. Howerton says sooner or later Cayley stopped respiring. And he attempted to resuscitate her.

Christy Jack: And at 10:30 at evening … he sees an indication … that signifies a health facility … on the subsequent go out. He pulls off.

Emergency clinical staff informed investigators they straight away knew Cayley was once in dangerous form. She was once just about bare, bruised, and had no pulse.

Christy Jack: You’ve got a —  a paramedic or a nurse who says those bruises have been on her when she arrived on the health facility in Luling.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): Why wasn’t she responding? (places his palms in his lap)

Howerton informed the police officer Cayley already had bruises on her legs previous within the day.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): She bruises simple. I — she —  glance, significantly, she will get inebriated, and he or she falls over and he or she bruises.

Police interviewed Howerton a number of occasions, however he was once no longer charged with any crime associated with Cayley’s demise. Then, 3 months later, her post-mortem record was once launched. The clinical examiner dominated that Cayley had died from blunt drive face and head trauma; it was once dominated a murder. Mark Howerton was charged with murder. He pleaded no longer accountable and was once launched on bail.

John Hunter: There have been massive quantities of gear taken over the process this weekend. Mr. Howerton introduced the deceased to a health facility, which is one thing you do not usually see.

Peter Van Sant: Murderers do not most often do this.

John Hunter: No.

John Hunter: The concept that it was once open and close is a mistake.

Because the trial starts, John Hunter says he has proof that can marvel the jury.

MARK HOWERTON GOES ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF CAYLEY MANDADI

In December 2019, two years after Cayley Mandadi’s demanding death, Mark Howerton is in spite of everything delivered to trial for allegedly kidnapping, assaulting and murdering her.

JUDGE:  How do you plead, Mr. Howerton.

MARK HOWERTON:  No longer accountable, your honor.

Peter Van Sant: What was once it like to look Mark Howerton within the court?

Alison Steele: Like everyone else, I would check out no longer to have a look at him an excessive amount of.

The trial starts with prosecutor Alessandra Cranshaw’s opening observation.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW (in court docket): I feel one of the best ways to inform this tale … is to start out the place Cayley Mandadi’s lifestyles ended. And that is the reason within the automotive of this defendant.

Prosecutors allege that Howerton forcefully escorted Cayley from the Mala Luna Tune Competition to his automotive. He then drove her to a carpark the place he sexually assaulted and beat her, inflicting a deadly mind bleed. Cranshaw introduced pictures appearing Cayley’s situation about 18 hours after she arrived on the health facility.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW (in court docket): Cayley is roofed with bruises from head to toe … I imagine that you’re going to don’t have any reservations about discovering this defendant accountable of the offense of homicide.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket):Issues aren’t all the time as they appear.

In his opening observation, protection legal professional John Hunter assaults the very basis of the prosecution’s case.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket): Mark Howerton didn’t reason Cayley’s demise.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket): No person noticed the rest that transpired between Mark Howerton and Cayley Mandadi that night time at the twenty ninth. There are not any eyewitnesses.

The state starts its case with paramedic Sharyl Lane, who was once using an ambulance as much as the Luling health facility that evening when a car all of sudden gave the impression at the back of her.

SHARYL LANE (in court docket): There is a black automotive at the back of us honking and flashing the lighting fixtures. … Prior to I even get out, I see a gentleman that is hollering and screaming. I open the door. He is telling me that — his female friend isn’t respiring. And he wishes lend a hand.

When Lane appeared inside of Howerton’s automotive, she noticed a demanding scene.

SHARYL LANE (in court docket): She was once uncovered … And her pants and her garments … have been within the floorboard through her ft. … She … had bruises on her, simply a couple of bruises that I simply be mindful seeing. … that is once I began CPR.

However Hunter says no longer everybody on the health facility believed Cayley were attacked.

John Hunter:  The treating doctor on the Luling health facility — approached this as a drug overdose.

Peter Van Sant: Wasn’t that as a result of Mark had informed them he concept she had overdosed?

John Hunter: Right kind. However the signs she was once presenting have been in step with that affected person historical past.

Peter Van Sant: Was once this girl overwhelmed or no longer?

John Hunter: No.

Hunter insists the pictures appearing bruising on Cayley do not level to foul play.

John Hunter: By the point that the sexual attack nurse … images her … she has been resuscitated. Six occasions, I imagine. Possibly 8. … She’s had a chest tube inserted. She’s had IVs put on each hands. … She’s been labored over through the ones physicians on the Luling health facility in a worrying approach.

Whilst the clinical staff fought for Cayley’s lifestyles, police interviewed and photographed Mark Howerton. Police officer Chris Adams.

OFFICER CHRIS ADAMS: Whilst I used to be taking images of him. I realized … the tops of either one of his palms.

DAVID LUNAN | Prosecutor: Do they give the impression of being pink to you?

OFFICER CHRIS ADAMS: Sure, sir.

DAVID LUNAN: Surprisingly pink?

OFFICER CHRIS ADAMS: Sure, sir.

Proof, investigators imagine, that Howerton did hit Cayley.

DEPUTY CALENTINE (to Howerton on bodycam): The ones if truth be told do seem like they’ve scabs already on them.

The Mark Howerton arrested after Cayley’s demise was once an tremendously muscled, intimidating determine. Cayley’s pals say he used steroids.

Christy Jack: … even in this sort of confined area. … it could’ve been rather simple for him to reason that more or less harm to her head.

Howerton to start with cooperated with investigators, permitting police to go looking his Mercedes, the place they discovered a gun and marijuana.

John Hunter: If he was once nervous about himself, he would have informed the police to get a warrant.

As an alternative, Hunter says, Howerton was once a lot more focused on Cayley.

MARK HOWERTON (police interview): Can I to find out an replace on her, please? Is there any approach?

The one one who may counter Howerton’s tale was once lifeless. Investigators was hoping Cayley’s stays would possibly discuss on her behalf. Dr. Suzanna Dana carried out the post-mortem and mentioned the proof presentations Cayley was once overwhelmed to demise.

DR. SUZANNA DANA (in court docket): She had numerous what I name blunt drive accidents to her face and her head. …

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW: And what’s this that we see at the back of the ear?

DR. SUZANNA DANA:  That is a bruise. That is a contusion.

However right through cross-examination, Hunter will get Dana to confess that a minimum of one Cayley’s accidents was once led to through her hospital therapy.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket): So CPR may cause numerous other accidents, no longer simply merely superficial ones. Proper

DR. SUZANNA DANA: Sure. 

JOHN HUNTER: On this case, a rib was once damaged. Is that proper.

DR. SUZANNA DANA:  I imagine so. Sure.

Regardless of the jury thinks about how Cayley died, they are about to be told a lot extra about her love lifestyles with Howerton.

A DEFENSE WITNESS MAKES A STUNNING CLAIM

Within the agonizing ultimate hours of Cayley Mandadi’s lifestyles, her pals collected to mention good-bye. Cayley’s youth pal Taylor Clement met her school pals for the primary time. They bonded speaking about Cayley.

Taylor Clement: Even in that state of affairs, she was once bringing folks shut that may’ve by no means met earlier than.

A few of the ones pals now nervously wait to testify in Howerton’s homicide trial.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW (in court docket): Do you understand this individual?

MORGAN SAMPSON: I do.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW: Who is that this particular person?

MORGAN SAMPSON (voice breaking): It is Cayley.

Her roommate, Morgan Sampson, informed of a stormy historical past between Cayley and Howerton, together with one specifically demanding incident only a few weeks earlier than Cayley’s demise. She was once making plans to visit a birthday celebration and says Howerton were given disillusioned when she invited Cayley to come back alongside.

MORGAN SAMPSON (in court docket): Mark and Cayley have been out at the balcony. And he had thrown her up in opposition to the brick wall —

Cayley ended up going to that birthday celebration in opposition to Howerton’s needs. Quickly, neighbors reported listening to loud banging in Cayley’s room. Campus police officer Roderick Lewis was once dispatched to analyze.

OFFICER LEWIS (in court docket): Once I arrived on the location … a male matter was once exiting the room.  

OFFICER LEWIS (bodycam video): And so you are within the room simply ready on her whilst she’s at a birthday celebration?

MARK HOWERTON: Precisely.

OFFICER LEWIS: OK.

OFFICER LEWIS: … You thoughts if I have a look within the room?

MARK HOWERTON: Guy, no …

OFFICER LEWIS: I would really like you to step out right here with my spouse at the moment.

When Lewis did pass into Cayley’s room, he discovered the glass door to the balcony was once cracked, and Cayley’s garments have been scattered within the timber. Pals say Howerton later smashed Cayley’s pc in the street. The college barred him from campus.

Cayley informed her ex-boyfriend, Jett Birchum, that she sought after to get again with him.

Christy Jack: She was once truly torn between two other folks and either one of whom have been vying for her affection.

Birchum informed the jurors all of it got here to a head on the song competition.

JETT BIRCHUM (in court docket): She mentioned she sought after to get a divorce with him at Mala Luna ‘reason there’d be a variety of witnesses and folks round.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW: Did she appear nervous about breaking apart with him?

JETT BIRCHUM: Sure.

Howerton picked Cayley as much as pass to the song competition. However first they pulled into a close-by carwash to take MDMA, or molly. Howerton mentioned they’d extra when they were given to the competition.

John Hunter: We are speaking about huge doses, smartly above what can be vital for it to impact — be efficient — to realize the enjoy.

When Cayley did not display up on campus that evening, her pals began calling her. Howerton replied Cayley’s telephone.

MORGAN SAMPSON (in court docket): I used to be like, “Have you ever noticed Cayley?” Or, “Have you ever heard from her? Like are you together with her?” And he mentioned, “She can not communicate at the moment,” after which hung up the telephone.

Panicked, they started looking for Cayley. Jett Birchum, who additionally attended the competition, says he noticed Mark and Cayley transfer against the go out… apparently in opposition to Cayley’s needs.

JETT BIRCHUM (in court docket): Cayley gave the impression of she was once tryin’ to make space and kinda simply escape.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW: After which what do you notice him do?

JETT BIRCHUM: As she’s tryin’ to step away, I see him succeed in out his proper arm and hook it round her shoulder and pull her in nearer. After which flip and stroll away.

Peter Van Sant: That is necessary testimony.

Christy Jack: It is important testimony as a result of it is appearing that she’s being … being taken somewhere in opposition to her will.

Protection legal professional John Hunter hammers him on cross-examination.

Christy Jack: It in an instant falls aside nearly from the first actual query.

In his wondering, Hunter confronts Birchum revealing how he to start with misled investigators about what he had noticed.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket):  You recommended the police that you simply noticed Mark bodily pick out her up and position her in his automotive, is not that proper?

JETT BIRCHUM:  Sure, sir.

JOHN HUNTER: And it differs from the testimony that you simply gave as of late, proper?

JETT BIRCHUM: Sure, sir. … I didn’t see him put her within the automotive.

Birchum admits he exaggerated to police. However why? Prosecutors say he was once nervous about Cayley’s protection and sought after to persuade police officers to seek for her. Hunter then demanding situations Birchum referring to inconsistencies in his testimony to a grand jury concerning the timeline on the song competition.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket): Would it not marvel you to be told that the telephone name you positioned to Cayley Mandadi’s telephone was once made at 7 o’clock?

JETT BIRCHUM: No, sir.

So as to undermine Birchum’s credibility, he’s requested about an unrelated drug rate.

JOHN HUNTER (in court docket): You have been on probation on the time, have been you no longer, Mr. Birchum?

JETT BIRCHUM: Right kind.

In 47 mins of brutal wondering, Birchum “takes the 5th” 30 occasions, along with his legal professional through his aspect.

JETT BIRCHUM:  … supplied through the 5th Modification.

The wear and tear was once executed.

Peter Van Sant: Inform me the affect of him announcing time and again that he is taking the 5th?

John Hunter: The affect I feel cannot be understated. It is — it is a massive factor to look any individual do this.

Hunter has a celebrity witness of his personal — Dr. William Anderson, a forensic pathologist and previous clinical examiner who reviewed Cayley’s post-mortem and information for the protection.

DR. WILLIAM ANDERSON (in court docket):  So that you have a look at the post-mortem you are going to see—you are going to see what gave the impression of bruises.

Anderson gifts the crux of Hunter’s case: that Cayley’s bruising was once led to partially through resuscitation efforts on the health facility, and the organ donation procedure.

Anderson is going a step additional, pointing to a skinny line in a photograph of Cayley’s cranium.

DR. WILLIAM ANDERSON (in court docket, pointing to post-mortem picture): Beginning right here we have now this jagged line. So, like I mentioned, it is like a crack in an eggshell, and that could be a cranium fracture.

A cranium fracture, which Hunter says may point out that Cayley’s mind bleed was once led to through a fall.

Peter Van Sant: She was once in a automotive.

John Hunter: Neatly, she was once in a automotive for parts of … that day. … Hematomas do not kill folks instantaneously.

CHRISTY JACK: I don’t believe that you’ll overstate the significance of his testimony from a protection viewpoint. … It creates the impact that each one of those accidents passed off through each and every different manner, however Mark Howerton.

As soon as the protection rests, prosecutors convey the clinical examiner again to problem Dr. Anderson’s testimony.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW: Is {that a} cranium fracture?

DR. SUZANNA DANA:  No, it isn’t.

Christy Jack: The faint line that Dr. Anderson was once relating to got here from an image. … I did not imagine it. I assumed it was once reckless for him to have that opinion so definitively with just a image.

The jurors should now make a momentous choice. Did Mark Howerton kill Cayley?

PARENTS LAUNCH THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION: “CAYLEY GUIDED US”

After simply 10 hours of deliberating, the jury within the Mark Howerton homicide trial sends a be aware to the pass judgement on. There will likely be no verdict.

JUDGE RAYMOND ANGELINI (studying be aware): “After cautious deliberation and dialogue, sadly we can’t come to a unanimous choice.” Girls and gents of the jury, I’m pointing out a mistrial.

Peter Van Sant: Mistrial. Are you glad? Is that during some way, a victory for you?

John Hunter: Any time that your shopper does not pass to jail, it is a victory.

Alison Steele (sighs): It was once just a little bit disheartening. However on the similar time, I used to be mentally ready for that end result.

Prosecutors David Lunan and Alessandra Cranshaw have been disheartened, too.

Peter Van Sant: Did you are feeling as even though you would let the circle of relatives down?

David Lunan: Neatly, positive.

Alessandra Cranshaw: Yeah.

David Lunan: Completely.

But it surely does not finish there. The prosecutors plan to retry the case and get busy getting ready for spherical two, beginning with the protection big name witness, clinical examiner Dr. William Anderson.

Alessandra Cranshaw: I used to be no longer ready for Dr. Anderson to testify, uh — to what he testified to.

They might been surprised through his claims that Cayley had a cranium fracture, and her bruising was once led to partially through the organ donation procedure.

Peter Van Sant: So, do you to find that this perception that organ harvesting led to those bruises to be absurd?

David Lunan: Absurd. Absurd. On this example, it is absurd.

Whilst the prosecutors paintings to deal with the ones claims, protection legal professional John Hunter recordsdata a movement to get the entire case pushed aside, primarily based partially on what he says have been Jett Birchum’s lies.

John Hunter: The understanding use of false proof through the prosecution undermines our whole religion and self belief within the judicial machine. … If that may occur, then there is no level in even having an ordeal.

Cayley’s mother Alison Steele and stepdad Lawrence Baitland sat throughout the first trial and concluded jurors wanted extra details about what came about inside of Mark Howerton’s automotive.

Peter Van Sant: You was investigators?

Alison Steele: We did.

Lawrence Baitland: I knew we had to display what came about in that automotive. … The jury had to understand how it came about.

She’s a scientist, he is a NASA engineer. They started working.

Lawrence Baitland: I spent hours and hours, um, finding out post-mortem pictures, and I truly fixated on one of the vital post-mortem pictures that confirmed an affect on Cayley’s head, you recognize, proper in entrance of her ear. 

The picture of a small dot above Cayley’s proper ear. Different pictures display deep bruising above Cayley’s left ear, like the only described through the clinical examiner within the first trial.

ALESSANDRA CRANSHAW: And what’s this that we see at the back of the ear?

DR. SUZANNA DANA:  That is a bruise. That is a contusion.

Cayley’s oldsters imagine that after taken in combination, the pictures inform a tale.

Alison Steele: We imagine that of all the accidents, the blows landed on her … the deadly one passed off when he reached from his motive force’s seat, hit her within the left ear and drove her head into the window and onto the lock button of the auto.

In truth, in a recorded audio interview with police the day Cayley died, Howerton admitted he had prior to now executed simply that.

RANGER RAYMOND BENOIST (police interview): Did you ever push Cayley’s head up in opposition to the window?

MARK HOWERTON: I driven her, and he or she hit the window one time. That was once over per week in the past, sure.

Christy Jack: So, in lots of respects, it was once like, similar track, 2d verse.

They might want evidence to persuade a jury. Cayley’s oldsters headed to a used automotive lot, the place Steele posed in a automotive very similar to the Mercedes Howerton drove that evening.

Lawrence Baitland: I would photographed her head in several positions whilst I am maintaining the post-mortem pictures, looking to see in the event that they fit up with the door and it is a close to absolute best fit.

Baitland determined to head a step additional.

Lawrence Baitland: So, then I loaded this three-D modeling program.

Development a three-D type of Cayley’s head.  

Lawrence Baitland: … very first thing you’ll do is you’ll create a cast out of that three-D mesh. After which … you’ll undertaking a picture onto it.

And bringing them nearer to having precise evidence.

Lawrence Baitland: So this gave me the boldness to visit your next step, which was once to hunt out the killer’s automotive.

Mark Howerton bought the auto in 2018. Baitland tracked down the brand new proprietor and acquired the auto.

Peter Van Sant: What’d you bring to mind that?

David Lunan: Uh, smartly, that is new. That is, uh, no longer one thing I have been, uh, acquainted with listening to, uh, in different instances.

Peter Van Sant: Display me what you imagine went down.

Lawrence Baitland: Certain.

Peter Van Sant: Let’s pass over to the passenger aspect…

The auto Cayley was once fatally injured in is sitting in her guardian’s driveway. Baitland says using it house was once a haunting enjoy.

Lawrence Baitland: It is torturous. Um, however it is usually, you recognize, she was once appearing us what came about, you recognize. She was once guiding us to this automotive.

Peter Van Sant (status out of doors of the auto): You imagine that he struck her. When he did, she came around to this knob, her hit — her head, hit it. Now you realize while you push it down, it does not pass flush.

Lawrence Baitland:  Proper. … This won’t retract totally, regardless of how exhausting you hit it.

Cayley’s oldsters determined to make a video to show their concept in court docket.

Christy Jack: They went and located two actors, a male and a feminine to decorate the portions. They have been, um, identical measurement, identical weight.

Lawrence Baitland: If we did the reconstruction ourselves, it could be regarded as biased and almost certainly thrown out or a minimum of discredited.

So that they employed a personal investigator to supply the demonstration. They did not even have a look at it in case they have been known as to testify about it.

The video is understated: appearing 3 angles of what Cayley’s oldsters and their mavens imagine came about.

Peter Van Sant: Would appearing a jury a video like this probably lend a hand the prosecution’s case. If it — if it is allowed?

Christy Jack:  Jurors are very visible. … It makes it more straightforward for them.

Christy Jack: It presentations the way it can occur. And it solutions numerous the questions that the jury had within the first trial.

Hunter says alternatively Cayley were given that dot above her ear, it is all hypothesis.

John Hunter: It may well be from one thing on the health facility, it would had been from one thing earlier than she were given in Mark’s automotive. … May just it’s that this is from a locking factor at the door? I imply, positive. It may be {that a} area alien got here and put just a little, you recognize, mark on her.

John Hunter: I nearly really feel adore it’s no longer value discussing as a result of it is so unscientific.

Years pass through. Alison labored to cross the Texas Transparent Alert Invoice. It allows legislation enforcement to temporarily begin searches when folks elderly 18 to 64 pass lacking. In 2021, a district court docket in Texas denied John Hunter’s movement to brush aside the case, ruling there was once no proof of prosecutorial misconduct on the subject of Jett Birchum’s testimony. Hunter appealed that ruling.

Alison Steele:  It was once terrible, simply ready and no longer understanding what was once gonna occur.

Hunter filed appeals all of the method to the USA Best Court docket, which declined to listen to the case.

John Hunter: We misplaced in each and every court docket shall we take it to.

And so, greater than 5 years after Cayley’s demise, a date for a 2d trial is about. Might 23, 2023.

Peter Van Sant: What is at stake right here? … Are emotions, are feelings working prime?

Christy Jack: I don’t believe the stakes may well be any upper.

JUSTICE FOR CAYLEY

In Might 2023, Mark Howerton is set to head on trial for the second one time for the homicide of Cayley Mandadi.

Taylor Clement: I felt assured that this was once her time.

Within the 5 plus years since Cayley’s demise, Howerton was once energetic on social media, posting such things as, “Come @ me legally, I’m going to beat you  …” —  appearing little regret.

MARK HOWERTON (social video submit): Wow. 75% of folks suppose I am accountable. That simply manner 75% of folks on the earth…can suck my d***.

Christy Jack: He was once residing massive and bragging about having overwhelmed the state of Texas in a court docket of legislation.

Howerton’s lawyers John Hunter and Hallie Pease say performing out on social media was once his approach of dealing with the drive of being falsely accused of homicide.

Hallie Pease: He was once the usage of social media as an outlet for — to alleviate a few of that pressure.

All over the primary trial, jurors had just one rate to imagine – criminal homicide. This time round, attorneys upload extra fees, together with irritated attack and criminally negligent murder. Then got here time to imagine the video Cayley’s oldsters had made.

Peter Van Sant: Did you need the jurors to look that video?

David Lunan: I did, to start with.

Presenting the video got here with dangers, together with the danger that Hunter’s cross-examination about it would undermine the entire case.

Christy Jack: The pass judgement on mentioned I am gonna let it in. However if that is so … then the fogeys at the moment are witnesses and they’ll now not be allowed to sit down within the trial. … And the prosecution went and talked to the fogeys, they usually determined to withdraw the show off.

On Might 23, trial two starts — this one with out tv cameras. Alessandra Cranshaw’s opening argument is just about the similar.

Alessandra Cranshaw: I mainly informed the jury that … one of the best ways to give an explanation for this situation … is to start out the place Cayley Mandadi’s lifestyles ended and that is the reason within the automotive with this defendant.

However there’s a large trade to the witness listing: no Jett Birchum.

Christy Jack: There was once not anything to be won.

And prosecutors upload a witness – knowledgeable on home violence who informed jurors Howerton was once a textbook abuser, who remoted and manipulated Cayley, and in the long run was enraged and misplaced keep watch over.

A development specifically tough to maintain at simply 19 years of age.

Christy Jack: I feel she had no thought, the harmful dilemma she was once in.

John Hunter desires jurors to present Howerton the good thing about the doubt.

John Hunter: The … presentation of ways Cayley appears to be like within the health facility and the way she appeared on the post-mortem does no longer imply that she was once overwhelmed.

His case, this time round, is based closely at the testimony of a pharmacologist who mentioned the prime ranges of MDMA, or ecstasy, in Cayley’s machine can have led to her mind bleed.

John Hunter: I’ve all the time felt that that was once the foremost precipitating explanation why for her demise.

However prosecutors and Cayley’s circle of relatives say Hunter grossly exaggerated the chance of MDMA.

Alison Steele: There is by no means been a unmarried documented case any place of MDMA inflicting a subdural hematoma.

Peter Van Sant: What do you assert to that? 

John Hunter: Neatly, initially, they have not executed a lot analysis in this in any respect.

Hunter plans one ultimate witness — the previous clinical examiner whose testimony about organ donation and a imaginable cranium fracture led to such a lot harm to the prosecution within the first trial — Dr. William Anderson.

This time, prosecutors are in a position for him, with a brand new witness, a revered clinical examiner who informed them Anderson’s claims within the first trial have been irresponsible.

Alessandra Cranshaw: They learned that we have been gonna be greater than ready to shoot down all the ones claims that he had made within the first trial.

John Hunter: I did not want to have a struggle concerning the cranium fracture.

So the protection rests with out Anderson.

Lawrence Baitland: It was once a surprise. … That you must listen a pant within the court …

Now, a 2d set of 12 folks will resolve Mark Howerton’s destiny. It is an agonizing 2d watch for Cayley’s oldsters.

Christy Jack: That is the instant of fact; will their daughter get justice?

Agonizing for John Hunter, too. He’d spent just about six years running to stay Howerton unfastened.

Peter Van Sant: So the jury comes again in, what do you listen?

John Hunter: The 2 most pretty phrases within the English language, no longer accountable.

Peter Van Sant: No longer accountable of homicide. 

Alison Steele: My center sank after we heard no longer accountable at the homicide.

Christy Jack:  … they are considering, expensive God, that is the general nightmare. He is gonna stroll outtalk the court.

However there was once extra. Howerton was once convicted of irritated attack inflicting severe physically harm.

David Lunan: Everybody was once hugging every different and expressing their reduction that Mark Howerton was once going to jail.

Alison Steele: I became to my left and 8 sheriff officials had assembled to take him to prison. 8. So, that was once their approach of claiming, “we are right here for you.” (cries) So, that was once a — that was once a pleasant second to look that.

Howerton was once sentenced to the utmost – two decades in jail. To Cayley’s circle of relatives, it isn’t just about sufficient.

Lawrence Baitland: Mark Howerton is a monster, and he does what a monster does.

For Cayley’s pal Taylor Clement, the wound stays uncooked.

Taylor Clement: I pass over my best possible pal.

Baitland and Steele say they’ve no regrets about spending money and time on a video the jury by no means were given to look.

Lawrence Baitland: It helped us be told what came about. … We might do it another time if we needed to.

“48 Hours” confirmed Steele that video for extraordinarily first time.

Alison Steele: It is exhausting to look as a result of that is in all probability the blow that killed her.

Cayley’s mother, who prayed one thing excellent would come from her daughter’s demise, continues her fight to help other victims of violence.

Alison Steele: What I would really like is for her sacrifice … to lend a hand people. That is what she would need. I’ve completely surely about that.

Mark Howerton will likely be eligible for parole in 2033.

“48 HOURS” POST  MORTEM PODCAST

Peter Van Sant and “48 Hours” manufacturer Chris Ritzen speak about following this situation for over 5 years, two trials and the novel investigation that Cayley’s oldsters undertook to hunt the reality about what came about to their daughter.  

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Produced through Mary Ann Rotondi  and Chris Younger Ritzen. Jenna Jackson and Ryan N. Smith are the improvement manufacturers. Mike McHugh is the manufacturer/editor. Michael Loftus is the affiliate manufacturer. Gregory F. McLaughlin, George Baluzy and Michelle Harris are editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the chief tale editor. Judy Tygard is the chief manufacturer.