In the quiet town of Jesup, Georgia, the life of Jerry Lee Davis Jr., a 31-year-old male, was brought to a tragic and violent end on January 13, 2021. Davis was at his home on Oglethorpe Road when individuals stormed the residence and shot him multiple times. At the time of the attack, he was in bed with his young daughter. His wife and other children were also present in the house.
Originally from Miami, Davis had been a resident of Wayne County for the preceding decade.
He was employed as a driver supervisor for McDaniel Supply Company, a vendor that serviced correctional facilities, including Smith State Prison. He was described by those who knew him as a kind-hearted and gentle man, a dedicated husband and father to his three children.
The investigation into his murder, led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, unfolded over several months. The case proved to be intricate, with connections to another homicide and a broader criminal enterprise. In August 2021, authorities announced a significant development with the arrest of Christopher Reginald Sumlin Jr. in connection with Davis's death. Sumlin was charged with Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Cruelty to Children, and Burglary.
Further investigation revealed a complex web of alleged criminal activity. An indictment later implicated Sumlin and a former Smith State Prison corrections officer, Jessica Jean Gerling, in Davis's murder. Sumlin himself was a former inmate of the prison. Tragically, Gerling was murdered in Long County approximately five months after Davis's death. The case against Sumlin for the murder of Jerry Lee Davis Jr. remains pending, as he also faces the death penalty in a separate murder case in Tattnall County.
