Inset, left to right: Jurrell Davis and Jachri James-Gillett (Maricopa County Jail). Background: The park where Davis and James-Gillett allegedly committed the crime against the juvenile, who was pregnant with Davis’ daughter (KSAZ).
In Arizona, two men have been detained for allegedly murdering a 16-year-old pregnant girl and her unborn child, found deceased in a park the previous month. Jurrell Davis, 36, identified as the father of the victim’s child, and Jechri James-Gillett, 18, were apprehended last week. Both face two charges of murder for the death of Zariah F. Dodd.
Davis is also facing additional counts of sexual contact with a minor and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.
As per a news release from the Phoenix Police Department, officers responded shortly before 6 a.m. on July 5 to a report of “unknown trouble” at 55th Avenue and Osborn Road. Upon arrival, they discovered an unresponsive female with an apparent gunshot wound. Medical personnel from the Phoenix Fire Department arrived shortly after and declared the victim deceased.
The Homicide Unit detectives took over the investigation, identifying the victim as Dodd. An autopsy revealed that Dodd was approximately 22 weeks pregnant at the time of her passing.
On Friday, police announced that investigators had identified and arrested two suspects — Davis and James-Gillett — for Dodd’s murder the day before.
This week, Davis appeared in court, where prosecutors from the Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office presented further details about the charges against him and James-Gillet, according to Phoenix NBC affiliate KPNX reported.
According to the report, authorities have evidence showing that Dodd at about 8 p.m. on July 4 left her home at the Sunshine Residential group home in Surprise, Arizona, telling her family that she planned to meet with the father of her unborn child. That evidence also indicates that Davis was the person who picked Dodd up from the residence.
Deputy County Attorney Ashley Stetson told the court that prior to her death, Dodd was about to undergo a formal forensic interview with investigators looking into charging Davis with unlawful sexual conduct for impregnating Dodd.
The prosecutor also reportedly emphasized that Davis and Dodd were known to be “dating” and that DNA testing performed on Dodd’s unborn child confirmed that Davis was the father of her child.
Asked about his reaction to the arrests and the allegation that Davis was the father of Dodd’s unborn child, the victim’s father told local Fox affiliate KSAZ that his reaction was “disgust.”
“I mean, he’s 36, 30-whatever, it’s traumatizing,” he told the station. “But I’m happy that they did find the people who did this. That was my main objective there as far as the investigation, how it was put out there. A lot of mixed emotions. I do want to follow this. I want to stay on top of it to continue to get more justice for my daughter and my granddaughter.”
Davis is currently being held in the Maricopa County Jail on bond of $1,025,000. His next appearance in court is scheduled for Sept. 11. James-Gillett is being held in lieu of $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.
