Davis sentenced to life without parole for dragging death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man who dragged a 6-year-old boy to his death during a carjacking was spared the death penalty Tuesday when jurors recommended he spend life in prison without parole.

Kim L. Davis, 36, dropped his head in an apparent sigh of relief after the jury announced its decision. Prosecutors had sought death for Davis, who was convicted Friday of first-degree murder, kidnapping, first-degree tampering and armed criminal action in the death of Jake Robel.

The Independence boy died on Feb. 22, 2000, after he became tangled in a seat belt outside his mother's Chevy Blazer as Davis drove it out of a sandwich shop parking lot.

The boy's mother, Christy Robel, had left her keys in the ignition with Jake inside the vehicle, as she went into the shop. When she saw Davis trying to steal her vehicle, she ran outside and tried to pull Jake away. But the boy was still caught in the seat belt as Davis drove off, and Jake was dragged to death as Davis sped down Interstate 70.

Davis' attorney never argued that Davis wasn't driving but said he was unaware the boy was being dragged. The defense had argued for conviction on a lesser crime, manslaughter.

After the jury's announcement, Christy Robel said she would accept an apology from Davis if it were offered. She said she has forgiven him.

"For me to get to that point took a lot," she said. "But I know my son, I know my family and I know my beliefs. I came to that decision some time ago."

Davis' family cried and hugged each other in the courtroom after the announcement. They did not make a statement, but defense attorney Bill Shull called the decision "a tremendous relief."

During the sentencing phase, jurors heard from Jake's family as prosecutors argued for the death penalty.

"I set his headstone," Jake's father Greg Robel, who works at the cemetery where the boy is buried, told jurors Monday. "I prune the roses by the peach tree in the garden where he's buried not 15 feet away."

Davis will be formally sentenced Nov. 16.