Dad pleads guilty to murder in death of 5-month-old daughter (Erie, Pennsylvania)

Dad VINCENT DAVIS has pleaded guilty to one felony count of murder in the death of his 5-month-old daughter. It's the usual--he shook her because she was crying. The autopsy revealed a fatal brain injury, retinal damage and other signs of trauma, and recently broken ribs. And get this: Davis also killed the family dog on the same day. How low can you go....

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090922/NEWS02/309219924/-1/NEWS

Erie man: Daughter's death 'is on me'

BY LISA THOMPSON
Published: September 22. 2009 1:16AM

Judge William R. Cunningham asked the question in different ways, dozens of times.

Was Vincent Davis knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently pleading guilty in his 5-month-old daughter's February death?

Davis, who had wavered at a previous plea hearing in August, on Monday would not be deterred.
"It happened," he said. "It is on me."

Davis, 25, pleaded guilty in Erie County Court to one felony count of third-degree murder and one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.

With the plea, he admitted he recklessly inflicted fatal head injuries to his daughter, Savonnia Davis, on Feb. 24 and kicked to death the family dog, Marley, a Jack Russell terrier.

In exchange for his plea, Chief Deputy District Attorney Beth Hirz had agreed to drop charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 20 before Cunningham.

In his unusually lengthy examination of Davis, Cunningham asked how far Davis had gone in school -- the ninth grade, Davis said -- and whether Davis knew how to read. He wanted to know if Davis felt all possible defenses, including a mental-health defense, had been explored by his lawyer, John Moore.

Davis said yes.

Cunningham asked Davis if he understood the legal concept of malice, which is a state of mind that is required for third-degree murder.

Davis said he did.

He told the judge he backed out of his plea in a hearing in August because he was "scared."

Cunningham asked him if he was scared on Monday, during the second plea hearing.

"I am scared, but I have to get it over and done with," Davis said.

The charges carry a maximum possible sentence of up to 45 years in state prison and a $60,000 fine.

Davis told Cunningham that he has been told that the sentencing guidelines recommend a sentence of nine to 18 years for someone with his background. He said he understood that the judge was not obligated to give him a sentence in that range.

Davis had been scheduled to face trial in October.

He suffers from schizoaffective disorder, which includes delusional thoughts and mood problems, according to court records.

It is not known if that diagnosis played a role in plea negotiations.

The case stems from an incident that occurred at 211 E. 30th St., where Davis' daughter and her mother lived.

Davis stayed there frequently but also had his own residence in the 2400 block of Parade Street.
Erie police were notified Feb. 24 that a suspected child-abuse victim had been taken to Saint Vincent Health Center. Doctors said Savonnia was bruised, suffering from brain swelling and had difficulty breathing. She was taken to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where she died Feb. 26.

The autopsy results showed Savonnia had a head injury, retinal bleeding and other signs of trauma, including healing and freshly broken rib bones.

Erie police said Davis admitted he had shaken the baby to make her stop crying.

He also said on the same day, he had kicked the family dog, which police found dead in a garbage bag on the front porch.