Published: October 28, 2009 07:31 pm      

Body of murder victim to be exhumed

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The body of murder victim Jimmie Davis is being exhumed under court order.

The motion to exhume Davis’ remains was filed by the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office and granted on Wednesday. There were no objections to the motion, and Jefferson County State’s Attorney Jeff Bradley said the body is expected to be exhumed today if weather permits.

Davis, 26, was pronounced dead at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon at 3:55 a.m. on Oct. 4, after being shot during an incident in the 1000 block of South Sixth Street. According to incident logs from Oct. 4, police re-sponded several times during the evening of Oct. 3 and early morning hours of Oct. 4 to the South Sixth Street area prior to the shooting due to complaints of large gatherings of people and people blocking the roadway. Just before the shooting was reported, the police received a call stating the crowd was back and guns were allegedly seen in the group. While responding to the call, police received a report that gunshots had been heard and one person — Davis — had been shot.

Police arrested 24-year-old Robert C. Lash in connection with the shooting of Davis, and Lash has been charged with three counts of first degree murder.

Bradley said Davis’ family was notified before the motion to exhume the body was filed. Davis is buried in Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Woodlawn.

Bradley said although he could not discuss specific reasons for the exhumation, the motion was made as a result of further investigations into Davis’ death.

“Further investigations done after the autopsy revealed a need for further information,” Bradley said. “Evidence has been found that lead us to believe there are additional things we need from the body.”

Lash is being held on $1 million bond. A jury trial in the case has been set for Jan. 12, 2010.