Bruce Davis

Case record: Bruce Davis

Background

Bruce Davis was born in 1948 in Toledo, Ohio, and was raised in rural Fayette County. Davis dropped out of high school in the mid-1960s and moved to Manhattan, in hopes of pursuing a singing career. He earned a diploma from night school in 1968, but success in show business eluded him, leaving him embittered and struggling to make ends meet.

A sexual assault at age thirteen left Davis hating homosexuals. When his cash ran short, he hatched a plan to prey upon his childhood enemies, seducing gays and robbing them of cash and other valuables.

The offence

In February 1972, Davis was arrested in Washington, D.C., and charged with the murder of a local businessman, James Earl Hammer.

After Illinois authorities linked him with the strangulation of Rev. Carlo Barlassina—murdered in a Chicago hotel on June 29, 1971—Davis was convicted of murder in connection with Barlassina.

On the afternoon of October 24, Davis armed himself with an ax, fatally wounding Joe Cushman, a guard, before fleeing in Cushman’s car. The vehicle was recovered next day, near Christopher, Illinois.

While in custody, Davis launched into rambling confessions, claiming 32 murders between 1969 and 1971. With a few exceptions, his victims were described as wealthy professional men, seduced with promises of sex, then killed for profit and amusement.

The body count described in the case included eight victims in Washington, D.C., and more in the suburbs; five in New York; and other victims in Baltimore, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Reno, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Authorities in Illinois confirmed at least four slayings based on Davis’s intimate knowledge of the crime scenes. New York police “feel certain” of his guilt in the May 1970 strangulation of voice teacher Eric Tcherkezian.

Investigation

In February 1972, Davis was arrested in Washington, D.C., and charged with the murder of local businessman James Earl Hammer.

Convicted of manslaughter, Davis drew a sentence of five to fifteen years imprisonment. Illinois authorities later linked him with the strangulation of Rev. Carlo Barlassina, murdered in a Chicago hotel on June 29, 1971.

Arrest

Davis was arrested in February 1972 in Washington, D.C., charged with the murder of James Earl Hammer.

Davis remained at large after October 24. Halloween deputies picked him up for attempted auto theft in Smithers, West Virginia.

Trial

Convicted of manslaughter for the murder charge involving James Earl Hammer, Davis was sentenced to five to fifteen years imprisonment.

After extradition to Chicago in December 1972, Davis was convicted of murder. His 25-to-45-year prison term was consecutive with his existing sentence.

Ten months after returning to Illinois in mid-November 1982, Davis was convicted of Joe Cushman’s murder.

Sentencing

Davis drew a sentence of five to fifteen years imprisonment after his manslaughter conviction related to the murder of James Earl Hammer.

After extradition to Chicago in December 1972, Davis received a 25-to-45-year prison term consecutive with his existing sentence for the murder conviction.

Serving his federal time first, Davis logged eight and a half years in the lockup at Terre Haute, Indiana, with side trips to the prison hospital at Springfield, Missouri.

In 1979, Davis was transferred to the Illinois state prison at Menard, where he remained until October 1982.

After being convicted of Joe Cushman’s murder ten months after returning to Illinois in mid-November 1982, Davis was sentenced to life.

Appeals

Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers did not provide appeal details in the case summary provided.

Outcome

After being convicted and sentenced in Washington, D.C., and in Illinois, Davis was described as having killed 32 gay men and one prison guard.

Other details

Davis armed himself with an ax on October 24 and fatally wounded Joe Cushman, a guard.

The vehicle Davis fled in was recovered next day near Christopher, Illinois.

Davis was picked up by deputies in Smithers, West Virginia, for attempted auto theft at Halloween.

New York police “feel certain” of Davis’s guilt in the May 1970 strangulation of voice teacher Eric Tcherkezian.

Davis was convicted of manslaughter for James Earl Hammer and later convicted of murder for Rev. Carlo Barlassina.

Davis was convicted of Joe Cushman’s murder and sentenced to life.

Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers listed: “DISPOSITION: Five to 15 years in D.C.; life + 45 years in Ill.” and “MO: Killed 32 gay men and one prison guard.”

Timeline

• February 1972 — Davis was arrested in Washington, D.C., and charged with the murder of local businessman James Earl Hammer.
• June 29, 1971 — Rev. Carlo Barlassina was murdered in a Chicago hotel.
• December 1972 — Davis was extradited to Chicago.
• 1979 — Davis was transferred to Illinois state prison at Menard.
• October 1982 — Davis remained at Menard until October 1982.
• Mid-November 1982 — Davis returned to Illinois.
• October 24 — Davis armed himself with an ax and fatally wounded Joe Cushman, a guard, before fleeing in Cushman’s car.
• Next day after October 24 — The vehicle was recovered near Christopher, Illinois.
• Halloween — Deputies picked Davis up for attempted auto theft in Smithers, West Virginia.
• Ten months after mid-November 1982 — Davis was convicted of Joe Cushman’s murder and sentenced to life.