Suspect held for trial on Poplar Bluff shooting death

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man was ordered to stand trial Thursday afternoon for the shooting death of a man found submerged in the Black River.

Bryce Davis appeared before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for a preliminary hearing in his case.

The 24-year-old resident of the 1000 block of Garfield is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and two counts of armed criminal action.

After Bloodworth questioned Davis and told him of his right to have a preliminary hearing, Davis answered "yes" when asked whether he believed it was in his best interest to waive having a hearing.

Bloodworth accepted Davis' waiver and ordered him to appear Feb. 17 before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for arraignment on the charges.

They stem from an investigation into the Oct. 22 death of Salvador Ruiz Ramirez.

The body of Ramirez, 48, who lived in the 1200 block of Tremont, was found just before 8 a.m. Oct. 22, submerged at the end of the boat ramp on Black River at the Dan River Access.

An autopsy determined Ramirez, whom authorities said may have been killed over a drug debt, died of gunshot wounds to his head.

The victim originally was from Texas.