A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail after he was arrested Friday in connection with a 2020 murder.
Jace P. Davis, 18, of the 1500 block of Vincent Street is charged with the Class A felony of second degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action in relation to the September 2020 death of his mother, Darla McComb.
According to the probable cause statement by Poplar Bluff Police Detective Steve McCane, police officers responded to the 1500 block of Vincent Street on Sept. 8, 2020, in reference to a stabbing.
When PBPD Patrolman Matt Kassing arrived, he located Darla McComb laying under the carport on her back, surrounded by a pool of blood. He also noticed McComb had a stab wound to her upper left chest area.
McComb was transported to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center by ambulance and later died from the stab wound.
While Kassing was on the scene, witnesses reportedly pointed out Davis as the person that stabbed McComb. He then arrested Davis and took him into custody.
Kassing spoke with Davis’s grandmother, Connie Joplin. She reportedly said she retrieved the knife and placed it inside the residence. Detective Joseph Woodruff of the PBPD then recovered the knife, which is described as a large kitchen knife with a black handle.
Kassing also interviewed an individual, who said that he was called by McComb and asked to come to her residence because her son (Davis) was out of control.
The individual said when he arrived, he saw McComb and Davis were under the carport arguing. The man then said he exited his vehicle — and that is when he allegedly noticed Davis made a couple of jabbing motions toward McComb before she fell to the ground.
The witness said Davis had a knife and had just stabbed McComb, according to police reports. He said he then grabbed Davis and took the knife away from him, throwing it on the ground.
Joplin also was interviewed by PBPD Detective Jason Morgan. She told Morgan that Davis and McComb were arguing because he wanted his mother to get him something to eat before she left for work. Joplin then said she went inside the residence to use the restroom and when she returned, she allegedly saw that McComb had been stabbed by Davis.
Morgan interviewed Marsha Martin, who is Davis‘s aunt. Martin said she was outside with McComb and Davis while they were arguing and that she also allegedly saw Davis stab McComb in the chest with a kitchen knife.
Davis is being held without bond at the Butler County Jail. He was slated to have been arraigned Monday morning at the Butler County Courthouse.
UPDATE: According to the PBPD, Davis will be tried as an adult for the crime. He was certified to be tried as an adult last week, a process that had been ongoing since the crime took place.