Davis guilty on all counts Jury now weighs penalty of death 

Saturday, September 29, 2001
By DARLA McFARLAND
The Examiner — Republished By Permission

Kim L. Davis' four-mile flight in a stolen car may now lead him to Missouri's death chamber.

Jurors found Davis, 36, guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Jake Robel on Feb. 22, 2000. The 6-year-old Independence boy was dragged to death, entangled in the seatbelt outside his mother's car, as Davis fled in the stolen vehicle.

During closing arguments Friday morning, Jackson County Prosecutor Bob Beaird debunked the defense claim that Davis did not intentionally kill Jake.

"He did not accidentally steal that car ... this was an intentional act," Beaird said. "He decided to steal that car, he knew the little boy was in it, and he just didn't care."

Jurors deliberated only three-and-a-half hours before returning guilty verdicts on the murder charge and three additional charges Ð kidnapping, armed criminal action and tampering, or auto theft. The jury had the option to convict on a lesser charge of second-degree felony murder or involuntary manslaughter but chose the highest offense.

The victim's mother, Christy Robel, shed quiet tears in the front row, as Circuit Court Judge John R. O'Malley read the verdict. On the other side of the courtroom, Davis' family sat still and silent. Neither the Robel nor the Davis family made any comments at the courthouse Friday.

Beaird was also quiet after the verdict Friday. As he ushered Christy Robel into an elevator, Beaird said, "We have a guilty verdict. That is where we are now."

Davis now faces the death sentence on the first-degree murder conviction.

The jury will reconvene for a penalty hearing next week. Jurors will hear from the victim's family and, possibly, from Davis himself before making a sentence recommendation to the judge.

On the other counts, Davis faces one to seven years for tampering, five to 15 years for kidnapping and three years to life for armed criminal action.

The tragic circumstances of Jake's death shocked the Independence community and became the rallying point for a new Missouri law passed this year. The statute, known as "Jake's Law", requires law enforcement agencies to perform warrant checks on anyone being released from police custody.

Davis was released from a Carroll County jail just hours before stealing Christy Robel's car from the parking lot of the Mr. Goodcents shop at Missouri 291 and Hidden Valley Road. It was later learned that Davis had outstanding warrants in other Missouri jurisdictions.

Christy Robel of Independence, center, begins to cry as the verdict is read Friday during the trail of Kim Davis, accused of murdering Robel's son, Jake, 6, in February of 2000. Davis was convicted of first degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering and kidnapping. The jury will now consider whether Davis receives the death penalty or life in prison.

Kim Davis, center, sits silently as the judge reads the verdict convicting him of first degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering and kidnapping.

Prosecutor Bob Beaird talks to the jury during his rebuttal of the defense's closing statements during the trial of Kim Davis, accused of first degree murder in the dragging death of 6-year-old Jake Robel of Independence.