In the autumn of 2016, the community of Columbus, Mississippi, was shaken by the untimely death of Rodrick Ramon 'Ham' Davis, a 42-year-old local business owner. Concern grew when Davis, a graduate of Columbus High School and proprietor of Fat Boys Barbeque, had not been seen for a few days. On the afternoon of Thursday, October 27, 2016, police were dispatched to his home at 475 Burgundy Drive to conduct a welfare check in response to a missing person report.
Upon entering the
residence, officers discovered Davis's body inside. Initially, law enforcement officials stated that they did not suspect foul play in his death. However, due to the condition of the body, the Lowndes County Coroner, Greg Merchant, ordered an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. The results of that examination, which came the following day, drastically changed the course of the investigation. The autopsy revealed that Rodrick Davis had sustained gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
With the new determination that Davis had been murdered, the Columbus Police Department launched a full-scale homicide investigation. Authorities publicly appealed for assistance, urging anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward and contact either the police department or Golden Triangle Crimestoppers. Despite the ongoing investigation and the public's call for help, no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested in connection with the murder of Rodrick Ramon Ham Davis. The case remains an unsolved tragedy, leaving a void in the lives of his family, which includes his parents, children, and numerous siblings.
