THUNDERCATS KILLER DODGES DEATH PENALTY
Life for drug fiend who butchered cartoon artist
A MAN found guilty for the murder and dismemberment of a former cartoonist who worked on the popular 1980s animated series ThunderCats has dodged the death penalty
James Davis, 56, was convicted for the premeditated first-degree murder of cartoon writer Stephen Perry, 56, in 2010.
Jurors agreed with prosecutors that Davis, a handyman from Zephyrhills, Florida, fatally shot Perry and used a borrowed reciprocating saw to dismember his body.
Perry had been battling bladder cancer at the time of his death. The cartoon and comic book writer had fallen on hard times and allowed Davis and his wife to move into his home to help with bills.
Although a motive behind why Davis planned Perry’s murder and scattered his body parts across multiple counties was never clearly identified, prosecutors alleged he was interested in stealing the victim’s money and pain relief medications.
On May 26, 2010, just days after the writer was reported missing,
Tampa police found Perry’s van abandoned in a car park.
Inside the van were some of Perry’s decomposing remains. A few miles away, bloody bed sheets were found in a convenience store slip.
More of Perry’s remains were later discovered in various locations across both Pasco and Hillsborough counties.
Davis was arrested on unrelated drug charges on May 21, 2010, and then charged with Perry’s murder in July.
Investigators were able to link Davis to two bleach bottles he bought from a local Home Depot.
The jury found Davis should be locked up for life but not executed.