The test-taking idea came after a Monarch football player overheard Davis talking with another athlete about Ridley's difficulty in passing the ACT, according to statements given to investigators. The football player then told Davis he would take it for Ridley, and while Davis initially turned him down, he eventually offered to pay him an unspecified amount of money, the football player reported. Much of the conversation was texted, but the football player told investigators he had reset his phone due to space limitations and no longer had the messages.