Illness kills suspect in Davis killing

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A week after being charged in connection with a Wappapello, Mo., woman's death, her alleged killer will be buried next week.

Clifford Joseph Mitts, 71, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. A graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at McRome Cemetery in Carter County.

Mitts had been hospitalized with what was described as a "serious illness" when he was charged with second-degree murder.

According to earlier reports, Mitts allegedly had an altercation with Porisha K. Davis over some missing money at his residence in early January.

Mitts allegedly shot Davis, 39, in the chest.

Daniel Adam Canania, 42, and Laura Lee Hawkins, 39, both of Poplar Bluff, were allegedly at Mitts' house when Davis was killed.

Canania and Hawkins were charged with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

They allegedly did not report the crime and concealed her body inside the home, as well as disposed of trace evidence.

Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour said Mitts' death was expected.

"He was terminal," he said. "We didn't expect him to get to trial."

Barbour said he filed the charge against Mitts for the victim and her family.

"We wanted them to know that the investigation had been concluded successfully," Barbour said.

Mitts' death won't have affect the Canania and Hawkins cases, Barbour said.

As for Mitts, if he was guilty of killing Davis, "he's got to answer to a higher authority than what I've got around here," Barbour said.