2 In Custody, 1 At Large In Gruesome Murder Of Woman With Missing Limbs Found In Burning Van
DETROIT (WWJ) - Two men have been taken into custody and a third remains at large in connection with the murder of a 20-year-old woman whose dismembered body was found inside a still-burning van.
Word of the arrests came late Tuesday night, nearly two weeks after firefighters discovered the body of Rhonda Davis on Kendall and Westbrook streets, near I-96 and Outer Drive n Detroit's west side.
Anthony Williams, 22, and Dwain Modley, 50 were scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.
Police are asking for help in locating the third suspect, 24-year-old Brandon Curtis Williams, described as a black make, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and around 150 lbs. He's wanted on charges of interfering with a criminal case, obstruction of justice, accessory after the fact and habitual offender.
Investigators say Davis had been shot several times, and her arms and legs were removed. The remains were burned beyond recognition and unidentifiable until Davis' family provided her dental records.
Davis' van, a 2002 silver Plymouth Voyager, was seen driving in the area of Outer Drive and Schoolcraft Road shortly before the fire on April 3, and authorities believe her killer was behind the wheel.
Davis previously spent time in the Oakland County Jail for armed robbery — a crime her family says she was falsely accused of. Her time behind bars affected her significantly, according to reports, and left her distant from relatives who often had difficulty finding Davis and the people she was with following her release.
Although police have not released a motive in the case, Rashon Cooper-Black, Davis's mother, said her daughter was involved with one of the suspects in custody.
Speaking to reported on Wednesday, Cooper-Black pleaded with Williams to come forward.
"To his family, this could be your daughter, your cousin, your aunt, your sister — anyone that you love," Cooper-Black said. "My daughter didn't deserve this and I would just really like for her to be put at rest and for me to start my grieving process."
The case remains under investigation, and police are asking the public to continue submitting tips. Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
