Bernadene S. Lebert-Davis, a 43-year-old African American woman, tragically lost her life on September 17, 2015, in Covington, Georgia. The incident occurred in her home on Helm Drive, where she was found alongside her 21-year-old son, Robert M. Kelli-Davis. Both victims had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Bernadene was discovered upstairs with a gunshot wound to her forehead, while her son was found in the garage with a gunshot wound to his back.
The suspect in this double homicide was identified as Robert Maurice Davis, Bernadene's husband. On the day of the incident, Robert Davis called his boss and confessed to shooting his wife and son. He then contacted law enforcement, who arrived at the scene to find the bodies and a handgun inside the home. Robert Davis was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of murder.
During the investigation, Robert Davis claimed that an argument had erupted between him and Bernadene over unpaid bills and allegations of infidelity. He stated that Bernadene had hit him with a perfume bottle and threatened to kill him, prompting him to grab a handgun. He alleged that the gun discharged accidentally as he tried to scare her, and that he shot his son in self-defense as the son ran towards the garage. However, the investigation revealed inconsistencies in his account. The medical examiner's findings and the crime scene evidence contradicted his version of events, leading to his conviction.
In 2019, Robert Maurice Davis was tried by a Newton County jury and found guilty of the murders of Bernadene Lebert-Davis and Robert M. Kelli-Davis. He was also convicted of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. His appeal, which argued procedural errors during the trial, was ultimately denied by the Georgia Supreme Court, affirming his conviction and sentence.
