Скачать или смотреть WRATH: Scott Davis (with guest Sheryl McCollum)

On December 9, 1996, David Coffin was found dead in his burning home. The primary suspect was Scott Davis, the estranged husband of Megan Davis, who was dating Coffin.

The Crime

The events leading up to the incident were as follows: Megan Davis had filed for divorce from Scott Davis after two years of marriage and moved out of their Atlanta home. Scott Davis, who was not ready to let go of the marriage, hired a private investigator to follow his estranged wife. He even expressed his intent to kill anyone who would have a sexual relationship with Megan. The investigator provided Scott with Coffin's home address.

On the night of December 7, 1996, while Coffin was spending the night with Megan, his house was burglarized and vandalized. A phone call was made from Coffin's home to Scott Davis' residence. Later that night, Scott left several emotional messages on Megan's phone, asking if she was sleeping with Coffin. The following day, Coffin discovered his home in disarray, with a destroyed television set and several missing items, including his Porsche, Beretta handgun, shotguns, watches, and a caller ID box.

Two days after the burglary, Scott Davis called in sick to work. That evening, he exchanged vehicles with his neighbor, Greg Gatley, explaining that he needed Gatley's white Jeep Cherokee to return items borrowed for a Christmas party. Coincidentally, Coffin also owned a white Jeep Cherokee.

Later that night, Coffin's house was set on fire, and his body was found inside. The cause of death was later revealed to be a gunshot wound to the head.

The Investigation

Scott Davis became the prime suspect in the case. During the investigation, he made several false reports to the police, claiming to have been attacked twice at his own home by an unidentified assailant, once before and once after the fire at Coffin's house. During one of these statements, Scott mentioned that he knew Coffin had been shot. However, at that time, the police were unaware of this detail due to the condition of Coffin's body. It was only later, after the autopsy, that they confirmed Coffin's cause of death.

Legal Proceedings

In November 2005, a Fulton County grand jury indicted Scott Davis on charges of malice murder and felony murder, alleging that he shot Coffin and set his body on fire. Davis argued that the loss or destruction of evidence during the nine-year period between his initial arrest and eventual indictment violated his due process rights. He filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, which was ultimately denied.  

The trial court found Scott Davis guilty of malice murder and two counts of felony murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Key Evidence and Testimony

Several pieces of evidence and testimony played a crucial role in the trial. The fact that Scott Davis had hired a private investigator to follow Megan and had expressed his intent to kill anyone involved with her was presented as evidence of his motive. The phone call from Coffin's house to Scott's residence on the night of the burglary, as well as Scott's emotional messages to Megan, further implicated him in the crime.

Greg Gatley's testimony about the vehicle exchange with Scott Davis on the night of the fire raised suspicions, although this testimony was later struck from the record. The fact that Scott made false reports to the police and mentioned that Coffin had been shot before the police had released that information also cast doubt on his innocence.

Conclusion

The Scott Davis case is a complex one, filled with twists and turns. The evidence presented at the trial, including witness testimonies and circumstantial evidence, ultimately led to Scott Davis' conviction for the murder of David Coffin. The case highlights the importance of thorough investigation and the role of circumstantial evidence in criminal proceedings.