In late January of 2017, a concerned individual's inability to reach the occupants of a Van Ness Court apartment in Maplewood, New Jersey, prompted a call for a wellness check. Responding to the scene on Sunday, January 29th, firefighters gained entry to the residence and made a grim discovery. Inside, three adults were found unresponsive, having all sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as 30-year-old Roshana Kenilson of Paterson, 45-year-old Michael Davis of Maplewood, and 44-year-old Lance Fraser of Newark.
The preliminary investigation into the triple homicide quickly pointed towards a robbery. Authorities began a widespread investigation, seeking to understand the motive and identify those responsible for the violent act that had shaken the quiet community.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Maplewood Police Department worked in conjunction with federal partners to follow leads and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Within weeks, the collaborative efforts of law enforcement led to the identification and apprehension of two suspects. Lavelle T. Davis, then 33, of Galloway, and Jimmy P. Mays, then 37, formerly of Egg Harbor Township, were arrested and charged with three counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses. The subsequent legal proceedings revealed that the assailants had targeted Michael Davis's home in search of drugs and cash, a confrontation that tragically escalated to the loss of three lives. Both men were ultimately convicted for their roles in the crime. A judge sentenced Jimmy Mays to 153 years in prison, while Lavelle Davis received a sentence of 138 years.
