Jury finds Dayton man guilty on all charges in strangulation case

Jerry Ramey

Jerry Ramey

UPDATE @ 4:20 p.m. (May 12): Jerry Ramey has been found guilty on all counts in the trial accusing him of murder in the death of his longtime friend in a Strand Avenue residence in March 2016.

Sentencing is set for June 1, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Dennie Langer's bailiff.

The jury was given the case about 11:45 a.m. and announced a verdict about 3:15 p.m., according to the bailiff.

UPDATE @ 5:30 p.m. (May 10)

Jerry Ramey testified on Wednesday that he feared for his life when he got into a fight with his friend Earl “Boobie” Davis Jr. that ended in Davis’ death by strangulation.

“I believed he was going to shoot me,” Ramey said during cross examination in his murder trial in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. When asked if he had one of Davis’ arms pinned with his knee, Ramey responded: “You only need one hand to shoot.”

EARLIER: Dayton homicide suspect indicted in strangulation case

Ramey told Montgomery County assistant prosecutor Dan Brandt that he did not see Davis with a gun, knife or any other weapon, but that Davis “bull-rushed him.” Ramey also said Davis did have a gun and was threatened by Davis four months earlier.

Asked why he didn’t go to police after the incident — riding around on an RTA bus and going to get a haircut the next day when police spotted him — Ramey said he was coming to grips with everything.

“I wasn’t ready to turn myself in at that time,” Ramey said. “I was just trying to get my head wrapped around what happened.”

The trial resumes at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and closing arguments are currently scheduled to begin Friday morning.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow this reporter on Facebook and Twitter

Original report

Prosecutors rested their case this morning in the strangulation murder trial against Jerry Ramey, who is accused of killing longtime friend Earl “Boobie” Davis Jr. in a Strand Avenue residence on March 21, 2016.

Ramey, 43, of Dayton was indicted on charges of murder, aggravated burglary and felonious assault in the death of Davis, 45.

Defense attorney Lucas Wilder told a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court jury that Ramey couldn’t find $300 he was keeping in his car.

Wilder said Ramey questioned Davis about the whereabouts of the money and that agitated Davis, who allegedly later indicated he took the money.

DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APPS FOR LATEST BREAKING NEWS

Wilder asked the jury to keep in mind that Ramey was scared and afraid when he later went to visit Davis, whom Ramey had known since he was 5 years old.

The defense called two Dayton police officers to the stand and planned to call more witnesses in the afternoon session.

Dayton police have said an anonymous caller to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch said somebody had been killed inside the home. Police arrived and looked through a window to see that someone was down on the floor.

Ramey was arrested a day later at a barber shop on North Main Street — again based on an anonymous tip called to police.

About the Author