Police had just let him out of jail, where he was held for a week on a drug paraphernalia charge, police knowing that his release was a mistake. .
There was an outstanding warrant for his arrest in connection with a parole violation, and Davis wanted out of there before the mistake was discovered. When he saw Robel's car with the keys in it he saw it as an opportunity to leave. Davis wanted to get out of town as quick as possible before police found out about the mistake in releasing him. He figured stealing the car was the best bet because he could just return it when he was on home turf. .
The state's case was made up of eyewitness accounts from those who saw the incident at different points, from the parking lot to where Davis was captured. The star witness, Christy Robel, says she begged Davis to allow her to take her son out of the car, but that Davis refused, demanding she "get away from the car." The state's position is that Davis knew the child was still tied to the seatbelt but did not stop because he was too intent on making his escape. Prosecutors are convinced that Davis had to have heard and seen the child because, a witness located further away from the incident responded to the screams of Christy Robel. Davis concedes that he was trying to steal the car in a rash, impulsive act. But he denies that he knew at any time the child was being dragged. Davis claims that the loud traffic noise and the car radio distracted him. Defense lawyers say Davis believed Jake made it out of the car when he watched his mother grab him and hold him against her chest. .
The jury of seven men and five women, (six black, the rest Caucasian) deliberated for 3.5 hours before returning with a verdict. The verdict was life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was formally sentenced to two life terms plus an additional 22 years in prison.
On October 25, 1996 Jemaine Green gunned down Andre Miller when Miller tried to alert his neighbors about Green and two friends trying to steal cars in the neighborhood.
