Published: December 04, 2008 01:07 am         

Palestine man sentenced to life for murder

CROCKETT — A 22-year-old Palestine man was sentenced to life in prison last week by a Houston County jury for the murder of a 30-year-old Grapeland woman shot to death at her residence this past summer.

Eric Lamond Davis, 22, of Palestine was sentenced to life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on Nov. 25 following his five-day murder trial at the Houston County Courthouse in Crockett.

Grapeland police officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of Lime Circle in Grapeland during the early morning hours of July 5 in reference to an apparent shooting, authorities have said.

Upon their arrival, officers discovered 30-year-old Betty Cruz had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. The woman was transported to East Texas Medical Center in Crockett where she later died as a result of her injuries.

Investigators quickly identified Davis as a suspect in the woman's murder, determining he had fled Grapeland and was hiding in the Palestine area, according to Texas Ranger Sgt. Rudy Flores.

Around 7:45 p.m. the following day, officers with the Palestine Police Department located Davis at a Palestine residence in the 1000 block of North Jackson Street.

The suspect was subsequently placed under arrest for Cruz' murder at that location by Flores and Palestine Police Lt. Nick Webb.

Davis, who has also listed a Grapeland address in the past, has an extensive criminal history.

Anderson County Jail records showed that Davis has been incarcerated there 16 times since 2004 on a variety of charges, including aggravated robbery, engaging in organized criminal activity, theft, and injury to a child/elderly (intent to bodily injury), according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com

     

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