Sister says years waiting for justice has taken toll, loss has left family incomplete

CEDAR RAPIDS — For more than five years, Carrie Renee Davis’ family has had to travel hundreds of miles back and forth between Ohio and Iowa for two trials, appeal hearings and to listen to arguments about the rights and mental issues claims of Greg Davis — a “murderer.”

Julia Davis, who lives in Ohio, said Friday during Greg Davis’ sentencing that she wanted to talk about her sister, Carrie Davis, 29, of Marion, who Greg Davis fatally stabbed Sept. 28, 2017. Her sister was loved as a mother of three, sister, daughter and friend.

“She was a bright light, goofy and my best friend,” said Julia Davis, who became emotional during her victim impact statement.

The worst part, Julia said, is she no longer remembers what Carrie looked like and the sound of her laugh because of the years that have past since her death. Their history is being erased as the years pass, Julia said. She has to look at photos to remember Carrie.

The family, who were in the courtroom Friday to support each other, has suffered such a loss and are incomplete, she said.

Julia said she hopes Carrie has justice this time, and promised to attend every parole board hearing because Carrie no longer has a voice but she will be her voice.

Greg Davis, 30, of Marion, originally convicted of first-degree murder, was granted a motion for a new trial when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned his 2018 conviction. He waived his right to a jury trial and asked for a bench — non-jury — trial last September.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Sean McPartland found him guilty of a lesser charge — second-degree murder.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Mike Harris said this was a “senseless” crime that brought horrible pain and sorrow to her family. He asked McPartland to sentence Greg Davis to up to 50 years and impose the 70 percent mandatory minimum.

Alfredo Parrish, Davis’ lawyer, argued against the mandatory minimum, saying it’s “difficult to fathom” that it exists because Iowa judges should have the discretion to be able to make a sentence based on the facts of the case.

Greg Davis, who was supported by his family in the courtroom, declined to make a statement.

McPartland sentenced Greg Davis to up to 50 years in prison and he must serve a mandatory minimum of 35 years before being eligible for parole. He also ordered Davis to pay $150,000 in restitution to Carrie Davis’ heirs or estate.

Carrie’s brother, Dustin Davis, also gave a victim statement read by a Waypoint Survivors’ Program advocate, saying their family still is suffering every day and Carrie’s three children have to grow up without a mother.

Greg Davis not only put his family through one trial but also a second trial, “making us relive it over and over,” Dustin Davis wrote.

His sister’s killer still got to see his family, wave and talk to them during the trials, but his family never got to talk to Carrie again.

“I hope he sits in a prison cell and rots in the worst possible way.” Dustin Davis wrote.

Guilty verdict

McPartland, in his written verdict, said Davis on Sept. 28, 2017, fatally stabbed girlfriend Carrie Davis, 29, of Marion, under diminished responsibility that didn’t allow him to form specific intent necessary for a conviction of first-degree murder.

There was no disagreement among the prosecution and defense experts that Davis stabbed Carrie Davis 26 times while under the influence of methamphetamine-induced psychosis, McPartland said in the ruling. According to Dr. Arnold Andersen, Davis intended to kill his girlfriend, but his reasoning was impaired by his substance abuse and “he thought that doing so was morally right.”

Davis armed himself with a dangerous weapon — a knife — which showed he acted with malice aforethought, and the number of stab wounds revealed a “deliberate or fixed purpose” to do harm.

McPartland rejected Davis’ argument that he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. According to Iowa law, Davis, at the time of stabbing, would have to suffer from a mental condition that would prevent him from understanding the “nature and quality” of the crime or from distinguishing between right and wrong.

Davis’ meth-induced psychosis was a temporary condition that quickly resolved after he wasn’t under its influence, McPartland said. Evidence of this includes Davis tearing up a note confessing to killing her and his efforts to conceal her death.

On Oct. 1, 2017, Davis, driving his pickup with an attached utility trailer and carrying a roll of carpet, went to see his mother and told her he killed Carrie Davis and rolled her up in the carpet, according to testimony.

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