Murder Is Not The Best Way To End Your Marriage

A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with criminal homicide and abuse of a corpse after police discovered the body of her estranged husband in her front yard. Friends say the fiery on-again-off-again couple were contemplating divorce. This is a terrifying example of the need to protect yourself if your relationship is headed toward divorce.

Man Missing For Weeks

When Deric Davis’s daughter came home for the holidays on December 18, and her father was not at the Greyhound bus station to greet her, she was concerned. She reached out to other family members, who were also worried about Davis, who they had not seen for at least two weeks. As the family began to look for their loved one, they discovered he hadn’t showed up for work in a few weeks.

The mother of Davis’s child, Janet Winbush, joined the search. She helped call local hospitals to see if any unidentified people matching Davis’s description had been admitted for treatment. However, when police visited the home the estranged husband and wife sometimes shared, they discovered that was just a ruse:

“[W]hile waiting for someone to answer the door, [the police] noticed a mound covered with a deflated air mattress near the front steps…Authorities said the smell of a decaying body prompted them to look under the mattress, where they found the victim’s body stuffed in garbage bags wrapped with duct tape…

…Winbush told investigators that she stabbed Davis in self-defense after wrestling a knife away from him during a violent argument. They said she described everything that happened after that as “a blur” and she had no idea how he ended up outside.”

News reports say Davis was interested in getting a divorce, and there were pictures of text messages on Winbush’s phone indicating Davis was involved in another relationship.

Domestic Violence Support

It is easy to think “this will never happen to me” or “ what is happening to me is not murder-level serious,” but 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner.

At the Law Office of Gary R. Swavely, Jr., we have helped countless victims of domestic violence in the Reading area sever the legal ties binding them to their abuser. If necessary, we can help you seek a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order (commonly called a restraining order).

You may also want to reach out to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence for local shelter and resource information at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you are in immediate danger, you should call 911.

We Fight For The Results You Need

If you need help escaping a bad relationship, the Law Offices of Gary R. Swavely, Jr. is here for you. From our office in Reading, Pennsylvania, we’ve been serving the legal needs of the people in Reading and the surrounding area for over 25 years. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.