Jacksonville Man Guilty of Murdering, Dismembering Body of Girlfriend

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Courtney Lamar Davis, 31, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Second-Degree Murder, Abuse of a Dead Human Body, and Tampering with Evidence. Davis now faces a maximum of life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Angela M. Cox on April 10, 2017.

According to court documents, testimony, and evidence presented at trial, on March 19, 2015, the defendant murdered his girlfriend, Brittany Marie Foote, at their home following an ongoing argument about money. Cellphone records and witnesses indicated that Foote was not seen or heard from again, days short of her 22nd birthday. Just hours after the murder, the defendant purchased a chainsaw and rented a moving van. Cellphone records showed the defendant called a tow truck company at around 9 p.m. that night while in a secluded field on the Northside. Police were able to make contact with the responding tow truck drivers who led them to the area where they located the defendant’s moving van stuck in a ditch. The drivers told police about the defendant’s unusual behavior — they also described a “mound” in the back of the van covered by a white sheet, which was accompanied by an abnormal smell.

Upon being led to the area, police discovered a melted city trash can that contained the remnants of the white sheet with blood spots on it. DNA testing confirmed it was the victim’s blood after comparison with DNA obtained from clothing police recovered from a locker at the victim’s workplace. Further investigation revealed the defendant later dumped the victim’s remains in a trash receptacle; however, police were unable to locate the victim’s body despite a week-long search operation at a landfill. The defendant later traveled to his parents’ home in Maryland, where he confessed to murdering and dismembering the victim. The defendant also later admitted to police that he killed the victim.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Chris Huband.