ALBIA —
A jury last week agreed with prosecutors that a local man murdered his own brother.
Richard Davis, now 75, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Dr. Gary Davis, 60, of Albia. Prosecutors had sought a conviction of first-degree murder.
“We appreciate the jury’s hard work, and we respect its decision,” Geoff Greenwood, a spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, told the Courier on Monday.
The verdict came back Friday after a trial that started last Monday.
In February 2011, the Monroe County Law Center received a report of a shooting on Linden Lane in Albia.
Officers found Gary Davis in his driveway, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Dr. Davis was transported to the Monroe County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Later that same day, Richard Davis was pulled over by a police officer in Clarke County. Richard Davis was charged with murder, and ordered held on $2 million bail.
According to an Associated Press report at the time of the incident, the victim, a respected doctor, had a history of trouble with his older brother, Richard.
Neighbors said they remember Gary as a caring physician who always had time for his patients.
A jury trial had originally been scheduled for August 2011, but a series of delays put a trial on hold until after Davis’ mental health could be determined during a competency hearing.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office took Davis to the University of Iowa Hospitals for testing.
But in June of this year, Judge James Blomgren ruled “the defendant is competent to stand trial.”
A sentencing date was not available in the court record as of press time Monday. Second-degree murder is a class “B” felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison.
Local News
Davis found guilty of murdering brother
- Local News
-
-
Missing teen located, returned home
SIGOURNEY — The 13-year-old girl reported missing from Hedrick on Monday has been found. The teenager, Hunter Kopp, was located at a Sigourney residence around 10 p.m. Wednesday, said Keokuk County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Runnells. "The officers last nig
-
Stabbing trial pushed back
OTTUMWA -- The trial of an Ottumwa man accused of stabbing another man to death has been pushed back. Twenty-year-old Brandon Seim was charged in November 2011, when he was 18, with the stabbing death of Andy Madren, 34. When officers arrived at the
- Downtown beautification supplemented with utility vehicle OTTUMWA -- A new utility vehicle will soon be zooming around downtown, making sure the rights-of-way remain in pristine condition. At Tuesday's city council meeting, council members approved the purchase of a city-owned vehicle to maintain downtown l
-
Ottumwa man charged with indecent exposure
OTTUMWA -- A man has been charged with indecent exposure after passers-by noticed a teenage girl in distress Monday afternoon. Angelo Nick Orfanos, 28, of Ottumwa, was charged with indecent exposure Wednesday as a result of an Ottumwa Police Departme
- Tornado creates local questions OTTUMWA — If there's a tornado in Wapello County, where would I go afterwards? It isn't hard to understand why local callers are asking Wapello County Emergency Management that question. Josh Stevens, emergency coordinator for the county, said since
- Correction Due to misinformation provided to the Courier, the incorrect time was published for the Eldon Memorial Day services. The city of Eldon will hold its annual Memorial Day services at 10:30 a.m. Monday at City Park across from the BP station.
- Clarification ELDON -- It looked even worse in the light of day. A Wapello County farm damaged by high winds in the storm this week, neighbors had first believed, suffered some damage. But the situation is even worse, Eldon's mayor informed the Courier, saying tha
- A waiting game OTTUMWA — Family and friends of a hospitalized toddler are waiting for answers, as are local police. On April 22, officers found a 2-year-old boy unresponsive at his home in the 100 block of East Woodland Avenue. He was immediately transported to Ott
-
Training goes beyond fires
OTTUMWA — Our firefighters aren't afraid to run into a fire, said one official, but when it comes to a Hazmat situation, they walk. On Wednesday, the Ottumwa Fire Department was on the grounds of Cargill Meat Solutions, training as realistically as p
-
Hedrick teen missing
OTTUMWA — A 13-year-old Hedrick girl has been reported missing. Hunter Kopp, 13, was last seen leaving the Hedrick area (her hometown) around 6 p.m. Monday. Kopp is a white female, 130 pounds, 5-feet-7-inches, with shoulder-length brown hair and blue
- More Local News Headlines
-
Missing teen located, returned home
