Raleigh, N.C. — Authorities investigating the beating death of a Domino's assistant manager want the cell phone records of the ex-girlfriend of another pizza store employee's brother.

In a search warrant returned Tuesday, Knightdale police investigators say there were inconsistencies in the stories of Travis Melton Sherman and Anna Painter about communication the two had in the days following the crime.

According to the warrant, Sherman's brother, Nicho D'Angelo Bowers, found Kenneth "Kenny" Ring, 24, on the floor of the Knightdale Domino's at 2001 Widewaters Parkway early Jan. 9.

Ring died of his injuries two days later.

Investigators say in the Jan. 22 warrant that Painter told them that Sherman had called her asking her to tell police that he was with her the night of Jan. 8.

"Painter advised that she asked Sherman why she needed to lie, and Sherman told her it wasn't important," it continues.

The two continued sending text messages in the following days, investigators say.

"Due to the timing and amount of text messages believed to have been sent between Travis Sherman and Anna Painter … it is reasonable to believe, based on the investigation, that Painter and Sherman are communicating about the crime …about each party's whereabouts and the time of the crime and each party's knowledge of what occurred at the Domino's Pizza that night," the warrant states.

The warrants, however, do not indicate whether Sherman or Painter is a suspect in the crime.

Knightdale police continue to seek information about the case and urge anyone with information, regardless of how insignificant it might seem, to contact them at 919-217-2261.

Investigators also want to speak to anyone who was in the area of the Widewaters Commons Shopping Center in Knightdale from midnight to 12:39 a.m. Jan. 9.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $17,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction.