Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘All That It Seems’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘See No Evil’ chronicles the gruesome killing of Michele Davis, a 41-year-old mother who was found dead after an accident on the interstate near Des Moines, Iowa, in 2008. However, when the detectives investigated the scene, they discovered that she was not a victim of a traffic accident but of murder. The investigation was full of twists and turns, but the authorities were able to apprehend the perpetrator, thanks to surveillance cameras and an unexpected confession.
Michele Davis’ Life Revolved Around Her Family
On December 15, 1966, Patty Ann Rigby and Michael Lee Cosner welcomed Michele Ann Cosner Davis into their lives. In 1965, a year before Michele’s birth, the couple endured a tragedy with the passing of their daughter, Cheryl Sue Cosner. The pair raised their kids in a warm and loving household in Des Moines, Iowa, alongside their other kids. Growing up in the capital city, Michele harbored a deep bond with her siblings — brothers Todd, Rodney, James Sibert, and Josh Rigby, as well as sister Stefani. She drew strength and support from her family and stood by them through the ups and downs. She grew into a free-spirited individual who lived life on her own terms. Her vibrant and cheerful personality made her the highlight of parties and gatherings.
At a young age, Michele developed a love for mopeds. Over the years, it transformed into a deep passion for automobiles. She was a brilliant student with a bright vision. In high school, she got into a relationship with Bill McClain. The two eventually got married and began a life together. By 1986, the couple had their one and only child, William “Bill” McClain Jr. Over the years, the two had come to the realization that, although they had love for each other, they weren’t meant to be. Therefore, before Bill’s 2nd birthday, the pair split up but maintained a cordial relationship. Since Michele was in her early 20s at the time, she was open to the possibility of finding love again. Michele’s paths soon crossed with Randy Davis, a single parent like her. A father to son Josh and daughter Bridget, he was a US Marine and ran a construction business.
Michele Davis’ Death Was Initially Deemed to be an Accident
As they got to know each other better, Michele and Randy realized they wanted to be together. The couple tied the knot in 1991 in the presence of their loved ones, including the kids. Post the tragic demise of the mother of Josh and Bridget, Michele embraced the pair as her own and showered the three kids with all her affection and care. By the time 2001 rolled around, cracks began to develop in Michele and Randy’s relationship, especially because Randy had to put his business up for sale due to a reported “housing crunch.” While Michele had been a homemaker, she had to look for employment to support her husband and kids financially. She secured a job in the payroll department of TMC Transportation in Des Moines. As a longtime motorcycle enthusiast, Michele was a member of A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education (ABATE), a non-profit organization for the welfare of those passionate about motorcycles.
She took immense pleasure in modifying her bike and also worked to organize the Toys for Tots Motorcycle run every year. But above all else, Michele was a doting mother to her kids as well as her grandson. In the Fall of 2008, she was looking forward to holding her second grandson in her arms. Several years later, on the evening of September 11, 2008, Michele met with a fatal car accident on Interstate 235. When the authorities arrived at the scene, they pronounced the 41-year-old woman dead. However, the investigators believed that the impact was not enough to kill her in the way that it had. Upon further examination of her remains, it was concluded that the cause of her death was a fatal gunshot wound just behind her ear, making it a homicidal case. Thus, a murder investigation was immediately launched.
Michele Davis Was in the Middle of a Tense Divorce With Her Estranged Husband
Amidst the mysterious circumstances surrounding Michele Davis’ death, the detectives dug deeper into her life in order to get a clearer picture. They learned that the relationship between her and Randy Davis was far from perfect, as the former allegedly tried to leave him in 2004. Although he managed to convince her to stay, she ended up leaving him in April 2008 and moving into an apartment of her own. Things turned more sour between her and the Davis family when she filed for divorce and allegedly took a few belongings and money with her. More suspicions were raised against the Davises when the police found pending divorce documents inside Michele’s car and learned that she had a no-contact order against Randy.
Since there was no evidence of him being abusive or violent towards Michele, the detectives interviewed her stepson, Josh Davis. He told them that he had returned home on the fateful day at around 3:30 pm after going to the mall with his sister, while his father came home at around 5:30 pm. Meanwhile, during his interview, Randy claimed that he returned home around 3:45 pm that afternoon, and it was Josh Davis who allegedly came home around 5 pm. He then ended the interview by asking for a lawyer. The day after Michele’s murder, the police searched the Davis household.
Not only did they find a cleaning kit for a .22-caliber rifle, but they also came across a red Ford F-150 pickup truck, which matched the description of the vehicle that many witnesses claimed to have seen driving recklessly in the area of the accident before the crash. However, it wasn’t enough to arrest and charge either Randy or Josh. Upon taking a look at the traffic images and video footage from a local car wash, they spotted a pickup truck, similar to that belonging to Randy, on the highway behind Michele’s car. Moreover, her estranged husband’s cell phone data also placed him near her office at the time she left work, contradicting his claims about being at home.
The Killer’s Son Revealed the Truth in a Chilling Interview
While the detectives were busy gathering evidence against Randy Davis, they were visited by Josh Davis and his attorney on September 19, 2008. This time, he told them that he knew more about Michele’s death. “When I came home from my sister’s, my dad’s truck was in the driveway. When I came in, he come down and he said, ‘I wish that you didn’t come home,'” Josh stated. As per his claims, he tried to prevent his father from taking a .22-caliber rifle along with him right before the shooting.
He added, “He said he couldn’t take it anymore because he was gonna have nothing. I held him up against the wall and told him he didn’t want to do anything stupid. And then he got in his truck and left.” According to Josh, when Randy returned home at around 5:30 pm, he didn’t have the rifle with him. He told the authorities that his father admitted to killing Michele, but didn’t reveal how he did so. Armed with Josh’s testimony and the cell phone data that proved him to be a liar, the investigators arrested Randy Davis and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with his estranged wife’s murder.
Randy Davis is Currently Incarcerated at an Iowa Prison Facility
Less than two years later, in April 2010, Randy Davis pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and avoided facing trial. About a month later, on May 3, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison with the possibility of parole. As of today, 69-year-old Randy Lee Davis is serving his sentence at Anamosa State Penitentiary in Anamosa, Iowa, with his Tentative Discharge Date scheduled for March 2051. However, as per prison records, he would be eligible for parole in September 2043.
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