Jamie Davis

Background

Jamie Carole Davis was a Lakeland woman who was accused of fatally shooting another woman who had been having sex with her longtime boyfriend. The victim was Christina Tuzzolino, 32. Davis was 38.

Davis and Danny Beckner had been together for 18 years, and Davis and Beckner lived at Sea Oats Circle in Lakeland.

Rudolph Vokojevich, who had dated Christina Tuzzolino for nearly a year, described Tuzzolino as a caring woman who loved her children but could be very outspoken. Vokojevich said that he knew she had been sexually involved with Beckner the morning she was killed, and that it was not something he was happy about. Vokojevich said Beckner helped them out while he was disabled from two recent strokes and described it as “a real tragedy.” Vokojevich said, “When no one was there, she was there (for me).” Vokojevich also described Tuzzolino’s legal and drug problems, saying she had a lengthy record of criminal convictions since 1997; the most serious offenses included felony battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, and possession of methamphetamine, heroin, diazepam and cocaine.

Investigative reports suggested that Beckner had a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for incest, domestic violence, trafficking amphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement. Beckner was arrested on criminal charges stemming from the investigation into the fatal shooting.

The offence

Davis fatally shot Christina Tuzzolino after Davis learned her boyfriend was having an affair and saw him parked in the driveway of their home with the other woman.

Jamie Davis told detectives she snapped after learning her boyfriend of 18 years was having an affair and then seeing him parked in the driveway of their home with Christina Tuzzolino inside. Davis grabbed a .38-caliber pistol and charged the truck with Danny Beckner and Christina Tuzzolino inside. After a brief argument, Davis shot Tuzzolino in the neck. Tuzzolino died from her injuries at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Autopsy results showed that Tuzzolino was struck once around her neck. She walked a short distance away before collapsing and was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where she died from her injuries, according to investigative reports.

During the events leading to the shooting, a heated argument took place after Davis called Beckner’s cellphone and after Tuzzolino took Beckner’s phone and argued with Davis. The pair threatened to harm each other. During the call, Tuzzolino could be heard telling Beckner to let her out and to take her back to the motel. Tuzzolino left a voicemail recording of the argument, which was described as typical for Tuzzolino.

According to investigative reports, Davis decided to get a handgun to protect her family and went outside when she saw Beckner’s truck. Davis came outside with a .38-caliber revolver, and Tuzzolino was shot, according to investigative reports.

During trial, Davis testified that the handgun accidentally fired as she struggled with Tuzzolino. Davis said the gun went off as she was “tussling” with Tuzzolino, who was still inside the truck. Davis also said she was trying to block Tuzzolino from striking her, and that she saw something in Tuzzolino’s hand that she thought was a knife. Investigative reports suggested the object could have been a cellphone. A knife was not found in the area of the truck, according to reports. Defense counsel argued that the gunshot wound to Tuzzolino’s neck was fired at very close range and was consistent with a struggle taking place between the two women.

Prosecutors argued that there was no struggle. Assistant State Attorney David Sammons told jurors that Davis opened fire on Tuzzolino because she was angry. Prosecutors insisted Davis was not acting in fear and argued that she could have called law enforcement for help. The prosecution also alleged that after the shooting Davis called 911 and lied to dispatchers that Tuzzolino was armed with a knife and was trying to force her way into Davis’s home.

Neighbor testimony was disputed. One neighbor testified to seeing a struggle, while another neighbor told jurors there wasn’t a struggle and that Davis raised the gun to fire.

Investigation

The Polk Sheriff’s office said Davis told detectives the shooting was not intentional. Davis said she wanted to scare Beckner and Tuzzolino, but that the gun went off and a bullet struck Tuzzolino in the neck. That account was contradicted by witnesses, who said Davis came out of the home and immediately shot Tuzzolino, according to Polk Sheriff Judd.

On the call to dispatchers, Davis initially told authorities that Tuzzolino had a knife to Becker’s throat and that there was a “mutual physical altercation” before the gun went off. No knife was ever found. Davis later admitted Tuzzolino never had one. Prosecutors alleged that from the beginning Davis was trying “to say what she needs to say to make this go away.”

Arrest

After sorting through multiple stories, sheriff’s detectives charged Davis with second-degree murder. Polk County Judge John Kirkland ordered Davis be held without bail.

Trial

A jury found Jamie Davis guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Christina Tuzzolino.

Prosecution argument

Assistant State Attorney David Sammons argued in closing that Davis opened fire on Tuzzolino because she was angry. Sammons told jurors that Beckner and Davis had an argument the day before the shooting took place, and that Beckner left and met Tuzzolino at a motel before driving to the home on Sea Oats Circle in Lakeland where Davis and Beckner lived.

During closing arguments, Sammons said: “Jamie Davis was livid.” Sammons also said: “She was seeing red. She couldn’t see straight. She grabbed a revolver to go out and confront them.”

In addition, Sammons said: “She wasn’t scared.”

Sammons also argued that Davis’s 911 call involved false statements. Sammons told jurors: “From the very beginning, Jamie Davis is trying to say what she needs to say to make this go away,” and: “You took my baby's life,” was attributed to Cynthia Wilson during sentencing, not to Sammons.

Defence argument and testimony

Jamie Davis’s lawyer, Adam Bantner, told jurors that his client got the handgun because she was afraid after Tuzzolino’s threats, and that the handgun accidentally fired during a struggle. In opening statements and arguments, Bantner insisted that Davis didn’t intentionally fire the .38-caliber revolver.

Bantner told jurors: “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything,” and that was said during Thursday’s opening statements.

Davis testified that the gun went off as she was trying to block Tuzzolino from striking her and that she believed there was a knife in Tuzzolino’s hand. Bantner argued the gunshot wound to Tuzzolino’s neck was fired at very close range and was consistent with a struggle between the two women.

Witness statements and disputed struggle

One neighbor testified to seeing a struggle, while another neighbor told jurors that there wasn’t a struggle and that Davis raised the gun to fire. Prosecutors insisted Davis could have called law enforcement for help.

Jurors’ findings

The jury found Davis guilty as charged of killing Christina Tuzzolino.

Sentencing

Jamie Davis was sentenced on Friday, September 27, 2013.

Her lawyer, Adam Bantner, said Davis was “very remorseful” for Tuzzolino’s death and wanted to express condolences to her family. Bantner described Davis as a good mother to her six children. He said the shooting was a tragic incident that was out of character for Davis, who had no prior criminal history.

Circuit Judge Roger Alcott could have imposed a mandatory minimum punishment of 25 years in prison. Instead, the judge went higher and said he heard the testimony during Davis’s trial and felt life imprisonment was appropriate.

Assistant State Attorney David Sammons urged the judge to sentence Davis to life imprisonment. Tuzzolino’s parents, Terry and Cynthia Wilson, also had urged the judge to sentence Davis to life imprisonment.

Cynthia Wilson described Davis as a “monster” and a “bully” who allowed her children to have contact with Beckner, whom she accused of being a drug dealer. Cynthia Wilson spoke about the pain of losing her daughter and watching Tuzzolino’s three children grow up without a mother and said: “You took my baby’s life,” and also said: “You don’t deserve to be anywhere but prison for the rest of your life.”

Tuzzolino’s father, Terry Wilson, said he didn’t think Davis was remorseful and said: “I hope she never sees the light of day again,” and: “She gets to speak to her six children again. All we can do is look at a picture of our daughter.”

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Davis received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison on September 27, 2013.

Aftermath

Davis did not speak during Friday morning’s sentencing hearing. Beckner was arrested on criminal charges stemming from the investigation into the fatal shooting and pleaded no contest to several charges, including tampering with physical evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Beckner was sentenced to four years in prison and 10 years of probation.

A friend of Beckner, Sherri Ann Casinger, was also arrested on charges stemming from the investigation into the fatal shooting. Casinger pleaded no contest in November 2010 to tampering with physical evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by five years of probation.