On March 23, 2016, Dekeilen Joe Nelson, a 20-year-old male from Gilmer, Texas, was tragically found dead near railroad tracks in Longview, Texas. Nelson, along with 28-year-old Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson from Henderson, Texas, was discovered with gunshot wounds, leading authorities to classify the incident as a double homicide.
The investigation into Nelson's death revealed a complex and violent series of events.
According to police reports, the victims were lured to the residence of Craig Davison, 52, under the pretense of a dispute over stolen property or drugs. Once at Davison's house, Nelson and Stephenson were tied up with zip-ties and subsequently transported to the railroad tracks. During the transport, an accidental discharge of a firearm resulted in Stephenson being shot in the back of the head. Nelson was also shot, and Davison allegedly fired additional rounds at the victims.
Dustin Bennett, 39, of Longview, was arrested along with Craig Davison and Patricia Baker, 21, in connection with the murders. Bennett provided conflicting accounts of the incident, initially claiming the intention was to scare the victims and leave them at the train tracks. However, he later stated that he accidentally fired the gun, and Davison took over and continued shooting. Bennett was eventually sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murders.
Craig Davison and Patricia Baker were charged with aggravated kidnapping and remained in custody with significant bail set at $2,000,000 each. Baker later pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping and received a five-year prison sentence. Davison was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 54 years in prison.
The tragic deaths of Dekeilen Joe Nelson and Kevin Lorenzo Stephenson were the result of a violent altercation stemming from a dispute over stolen property or drugs, leading to their untimely demise and the subsequent legal actions against those involved.
