Jimmie Anthony Tony Davis, 36, although not taking an active role in the murders of John Allen Harry and Roger Dale Zammit, could have done something to prevent the deaths, authorities said. Davis was accused of driving the vehicle that picked up Harry on the evening of Jan. 13, 1995, prior to his torture and death.
Charged with especially aggravated kidnapping, Davis pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit aggravated kidnapping and received a four-year prison sentence with all but nine months suspended. After serving nine months, Davis will be placed on probation for the remainder or his sentence.
Davis was "in and out" during the time Harry and Zammit were held against their will, beaten and tortured, murdered and their weighted bodies dumped into Center Hill Lake. Davis reportedly helped lure Harry to his vehicle under false pretenses and then drove him to the trailer home of Chris Tatrow.
Authorities said he did not participate in the tortures and slayings.
Chris Tatrow was described as the ringleader in the murder conspiracy, reportedly mad because his trailer home had been burglarized and rodeo mementos stolen. He accused Harry and Zammit of being involved in the burglary.
Tatrow and Davis were among the nine men charged in connection with the incident. Tatrow was the only person to go on trial in connection with the slayings and was convicted by a Cumberland County jury. He is serving a minimum of 50 years in prison on the two felony murder convictions.
The case was moved to Cumberland County because of pre-trial publicity in the Warren County area. Four other co-conspirators pleaded guilty to facilitation of murder. Michael Redmon is serving 25 years in prison; Phillip Lawrence 20 years; Jeffery Lynn Sanders 18 years; and Kenny Mason, 18 years. Mason was a key state witness during the Tatrow trial.
J.J. Hendrixson two weeks ago received a 10-year prison sentence on kidnapping and accessory convictions. Bruce Rochefort is serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated kidnapping and assault and Greg Neal was placed on a one-year probation on his plea of guilty to assault.
Assistant District Attorney Tony Craighead said after the plea was entered, "This was a terrible tragedy, the worst I've ever seen in my time here."
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