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December 07, 2004
Murders Not Forgotten
Not much is forgotten in small towns, especially murder. Down where I'm from, they're fixing to prosecute a guy for multiple murders he allegedly committed 30 years ago. (Registration is regrettably required for these links. Sorry.)
Thirty years ago authorities said Davis had left the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in North Little Rock two days before traveling to Searcy County, where he bought a. 38-caliber pistol. Davis then went to Dennard and shot his mother and father, Shirley Virginia Davis and Dale Davis, authorities said. Afterward, they said, he went across a field and shot his grandfather, Ward Samuel Davis.
Then he stabbed and shot his uncle, Oren D. Davis, before driving to Harrison to kill Bill Martin, the former state trooper who owned the motel, authorities said.
While a state trooper, Martin had arrested Davis on an alcohol-related driving offense, according to a State Hospital report.
More details can be found here, including that Davis' mental problems became apparent after he was discharged from the military....during which time he served as a 'tunnel rat' in 'Nam.
I bring up this sad story to show that being found incompetent to stand trial, as this man was, isn't the 'get out of jail free' card as it's often portrayed. This guy has spent 30 yrs. confined to the State mental hospital after being charged with the murders. Now, after all that time, he's still facing prosecution for them.
Will he be found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect? Prolly so, but that doesn't mean he'll be free to go. If I were a betting man, I'd bet he'll get sent right back to the State mental hospital for the rest of his natural life.
Justice of a different sort.
Posted by Rita at December 7, 2004 07:32 AM
Comments
I love this kind of stuff. . .
Posted by: Robin at December 8, 2004 10:03 AM