In the fall of 2019, Dorothy Louise Davis, a 77-year-old woman, was tragically killed in her Midwest City, Oklahoma home. Neighbors would often see her and her husband of 55 years, Royce Davis, sitting together on their porch, holding hands in the afternoons. This idyllic image was shattered in the early morning hours of October 7th.
That morning, Royce Davis, then 80 years old, made a call to a 911 dispatcher, reportedly admitting that he had just shot his wife and was planning to take
his own life. When officers arrived at their home, they were able to convince him to surrender and put down his weapon. Inside, they found Dorothy in her bed with a gunshot wound to her left temple. She was rushed to OU Medical Center, but she did not survive her injuries.
During questioning, Royce Davis revealed the heartbreaking motive behind his actions. He told police that his wife had been battling dementia for several years, and he had made the decision to end her suffering. He also stated his intention was to end his own life as well. The devastating situation was described by Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes as a sad case where the husband felt this was his only option.
Following the incident, Royce Davis was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was held without bond at the Oklahoma County Jail in Oklahoma City. The community was left in shock, with neighbors who knew the couple as 'lovely people' struggling to comprehend the tragic turn of events.
