I'd like to start off by introducing those are up here with me. My name is
Robbie Rummage. R B B Y R U M M *** G. I'm the Chief of Police here, Police
Department. You have to take the Matthew Special Agent Denny North Class
State Investigation. The attorney jerry frank mary's family introduce yourself.
My name is lisa Yates, L I S *** Y *** T E S. I'm mary's sister um the 10th
child. My name is Lori Martin, L O R I M *** R T I N. I am I'm Marius niece,
my mother linda, her sister. Uh My name is Tracy Cleary, T R C R C L E *** R.
I'm her daughter.
So I'd like to open up with this and that is what is the purpose of today's
press conference. There are several things I want to make sure we
understand the purpose. One, number one is mary's family uh to you know, to
recognize what they've been through for 35 plus years. Uh that's number one,
number two, to illustrate the point that you should never give *** she
should maintain home
To bring resolution to *** crime that this community has been speaking of for
over 35 years
to recognize that these findings, *** result of not one person but the
contributions of many, countless people. Uh that includes many generations of
election police officers, investigators
and also show the collaboration
collaboration as we regularly do is of paramount importance and that's how you
gotta know how to results. Such this with collaboration. So some background
on where we were, how we got here. It's about Mary Davis Mary was reported
missing on May 30,
She was last seen down the street here at hardware where she worked
on May 31st 1987. Degrees of discovery of mary's body took place behind the
old Winn Dixie for those familiar with Lexington in 802 East Center street
here in the city of Lexington. As with all homicide investigations, this has
been opened and assigned to someone for all these years. Most recently been
assigned to corporate Matthew Refuge
Investigators in 1987 collected *** whole bunch of evidence that at the
time
really didn't serve *** lot of purpose. But the wisdom and collecting things as
an investigator is the reason why we're able to be here today.
That evidence was not liable in assisting in the case until very, very
recently.
So, in reviewing the evidence and knowing how technology has evolved over
time, our current investigators resubmitted some physical evidence to
the north Carolina state crime lab.
They provided us with feedbacks and findings and based on that. Our
investigators reached out to north Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
to find out what are the possibilities of us moving forward. But this new was
finding. So the FBI in partnership with
incorporated undertook the complex process of utilizing the most recent
advancements in D. N. ***. To provide evidence that led to identifying the
offender in the murder of Mary Davis. That evidence was corroborated by
information that's been gained throughout the years from other
investigators. Election police Department investigators and the FBI
presented this information to disk. Attorney Gary frank based on the
evidence presented. MR frank provided an official letter indicated that if
alive today the state would proceed with indictments for the offenses of
first degree murder, first degree kidnapping and first degree rate
charging charging Russell Grant Wood with these crimes. The offender in this
case, Russell Grant Wood.
It was *** Black Sington And died in 2013.
So investigators initially notified mary's family. Last friday of these
findings just yesterday we had *** debriefing with them to speak about how
we came to this point to answer any questions we could uh in preparation
for public uh because this is *** big this is *** big newsworthy event.
I'd like to uh to read *** statement from labs incorporated *** key partner
in all of this uh private entity that works closely with the S. D. I. Uh to
help us undertake this. So from incorporated in 2 2022 2022 D. N. ***.
Evidence from the case was sent to incorporated and oh thrown scientists
used forensic grade genome sequencing to develop *** comprehensive
genealogical profile for the unknown male suspect. Oh throne built ***
comprehensive genealogy profile from the remaining DNA extract and then both
arms in house geological team used *** profile to produce investigative leads
then returned investigative leads to investigators. As part of the follow up
investigations, investigators identified the suspect. That's how we
got to worry at today. I'd like to turn them over to some members
representatives of mary's family to provide you some thoughts.
Thank you.
Good afternoon. On behalf of the family of mary. Davis Mathis. I would like to
extend our deepest and sincere appreciation to all of you at the
Lexington Police Department for your work and persistence and finding the
person responsible for taking mary from us. You've done *** phenomenal job
revisiting the case throughout the last 36 years and ensuring that Mary wasn't
just *** file on the shelf. Thank you all for caring so deeply and for all of
the work that you have done to bring our family disclosure
For the last 36 years. We've all wondered what kind of motive someone
could have to commit such *** heinous act of violence and have been all been
left with many questions. Our family never gave up on our search for answers
and we prayed that one day we would find the person who violently murdered,
murdered our beloved married. We now have some answers and although that
won't bring mary back, it does give us *** sense of closure.
Mary was *** light in the world and we were blessed to have her as long as we
did. She was *** loving mother, sister, aunt, wife and friend. And we know that
she is wrestling resting peacefully in the arms of our Lord and savior. Some
55 6 says, oh that I had wings like *** dove. I would fly away and be at rest
in the christian faith. The white dove represents peace and unity with God. We
would like to invite family and friends to join us for *** celebration and
memorial. On the day that would have been married, 65th birthday, we will be
releasing white doves this sunday february 12th at two o'clock at Forest
Hill Memorial Park. Our family has requested that press does choose to
attend. Please respect our time together as family and refrain from
approaching anyone with questions on that day.
And the last thing I want to leave everyone with Tracy, mary's daughter
has *** poem for her that she'd like to share to my dear angel in heaven. I
just want you to know how much you're in my thoughts and how much I love you.
So though you are in God's hands or God's care and that's how it should be.
But when I get to heaven, he will give you back to me.
Thank you all.
Thank you appreciate that. Thank you so much. Beautiful point. That was ***
nice tribute. Uh, at this time. Uh, we can entertain some questions. I will
say that I understand the interest in the technology of D. N. ***. I'm not
qualified to speak to that. Just full disclosure uh refer openly incorporated
provided *** statement most of those questions and we're gonna refer to them,
uh they were not able to have *** representative here today.
Do you know the relation of the offender to the victim?
They were there is some question of that but they were not I don't think
they were complete strangers. There was associates. They were both lived in
nearby communities together.
You have *** date of birth for the subject. Uh That'll be right now.
We could probably follow one.
Yes. Was he previously accused of *** crime of *** crime? Any crimes crimes?
Typically I would not speak to someone's criminal history uh because I
would be appropriate. However I would say there was now he's deceased. There
was no troubling. There were clarified that there was no criminal history from
before that point. And since then
Yes Ma'am. Can you tell us what the physical piece of evidence was that
Y'all submitted to the state to help with this? Um I don't get an exact
details on that. I will say this that it was it was items collected physical
evidence from her uh back in 1987. And it's been been holding ever since to
this to this time. Now.
Had he been on anyone's radar or was this *** complete surprise. Yeah. Mr
Wood, his name did not just fall out recently. We have had some information
through all these years that we you know along with *** lot of other
information. We've looked at this many different times. Too many sets of eyes.
So when I say that the D. N. ***. Was corroborated by other evidence, you
know, that it just it just all living together made perfect sense. So it
wasn't just the D. N. ***. D. N. ***. Was the was the magic piece that really
really needed to seal it. So his name had come up
and we may never know this. But are there any uh leads to *** motive? No, I
mean that that would be nothing but conjecture and special speculation. I
would have no way of knowing and that's unfortunate.
There's no change
what they lead you to submit the evidence at this time because we know
that what we've done here and not to take away what our folks have done.
Um This is something that we commonly do with older cases. We try to look at
what's advancing in technology uh, and to this point, technology haven't
caught up to be able to handle what we had in this particular case. Uh, So
with any cases, that's the reason why they stay open, you never know what's
gonna be an advancement. So the idea that cases cold does not mean it's
close. So that's why we've done it now. Said it's been five years, it's been
two years since we've gone back and looked and submitted this evidence. So
we're gonna go ahead and do it again or well, *** lot of us got to do it. Said
that piece about collaboration is no one knows who's in the
state crime lab. Those with the FBI, those who are really in the forefront
of knowing what's the newest technology and having *** conversation. But hey,
you know what? We've got this, we tried and sometimes, you know, those were,
those were, you know, the time for it to happen. Came to be
any other questions? Yes, ma'am. Can you just kind of talk about on ***
human level what it's like for y'all to be able to provide closure to the
family in this situation. Very good question. Thank you. I can say I can
speak for all the answers. Been involved since 1987 and that is number
one, we see justice and what we do receive justice for the family. You
know, in this case will not be *** limited prosecution. That's very
important to us. You know, I am planning on, we're planning on putting
together *** debriefing situation for *** lot of retirees who are involved in
this because this is what I know about our officers and officers in this
profession. We take these things with there's officers who worked here and
they retired, never knowing who committed this crime, who, never
knowing who committed other crimes and they're watching and for them this,
this is *** very important, uh, time for them to and we want to debrief them
because it's on *** human level, you're talking about *** horrendous crime. Um
It should never occur. It's on us to do our job to investigate, to bring to ***
successful conclusion. And when you can't do that, you carry that with you.
You carry the frustration with. And I'm glad to say that we've already learned
*** lot of our retirees. No, will be set in future meetings with. Thank you
for that. Have these advancements in DNA technology led to any more closures?
The solving of cold cases here recently.
But again, remember, never give up hope. You know, we we have other cases we
don't look at as is other law enforcement agencies. You know, this is
something that's revolving. We know that for every victim, you've got
countless members of the family and really the community at large who want
to answer. So, it's uh we don't keep advancing involving with the technology
wherever that may take us
any other questions
that evidence to? Uh last year?
I think it was around summertime,
Summertime.
one more question. You got any more questions.
All right, thank you. I know that. Mr Brittany Lance, our Public Relations
Director, has got some uh they haven't handed out already some press releases
more information. Uh just have any follow up questions I've asked you
going through her. Thank you for your time
anyway. Yeah.
Mhm