The Hamilton County District Attorney’s office has dropped all charges against a 22-year-old man arrested in a double-slaying last year.
Chattanooga police arrested Ivan Davis in connection with the “execution-style” killings of Aric Moses and Jackie Davis, who were from Atlanta.
The pair were found dead inside a vehicle at 3400 Vinewood St. on Dec. 18.
Davis was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
“At this time, there is no forensic evidence that links the defendant to this crime and the eyewitness recanted her statement in open court so we have to move to dismiss,” said Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston.
The case was dismissed “without prejudice,” which allows prosecutors to file future charges if more evidence is uncovered.
“It is confirmation of what we expected the entire time, that Mr. Davis is innocent of these charges,” said Bill Speek, Davis’ attorney.
Speek took over the case four months ago and said both he and the prosecution awaited Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports to determine what evidence existed.
What was thought to be blood on Davis’ shoe was not and weapons taken from his home were found to have no connection to the weapon used in the killing, Speek said.
A key eyewitness also changed her recounting of events, taking away tools in the prosecution’s case.
Shateera Allison initially told police that she had seen the shooter, but in testimony during a preliminary hearing, she said she could not identify the person, Speek said.
Tim Carroll, assistant police chief over criminal investigations, said Allison’s account was a large part of the police department’s case.
“It happens occasionally because you get a witness, they get afraid that’s something’s going to happen to them or their family and they don’t want to testify,” he said.
“We can’t make people get up and testify if they don’t want to,” he said. “So yeah, it’s frustrating not only for us but for the victim’s family.”
Carroll said investigators will go back over evidence, tests and “reach out to the community for any additional witnesses.”
The court first set Davis’ bond at $1 million, but Judge Don Poole lowered it to $10,000 last week after a series of motions. Davis left jail Friday on bond and the charges were dropped Monday, according to court documents.
Speek said he has advised his client not to talk with the media. He said Davis is “grateful to have his freedom and has always maintained his innocence.”
Contact Todd South at tsouth@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347.