Plea spares killer death penalty

  By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT, The Telegraph

Aug. 1. 2006

EDWARDSVILLE - Matthew A. Davis may have to serve a life sentence but will escape the death penalty after pleading guilty Monday to the brutal fatal stabbing of Rachel L. Hayes, 21, of Wood River.

  Davis, 27, of the 3800 block of Horn Street, Alton, pleaded guilty in exchange for prosecutors' agreement not to seek the death penalty for stabbing Hayes repeatedly in the chest, neck and back.      

  One of his attorneys, John O'Gara, acknowledged in court that the state had enough evidence to prove that Davis murdered Hayes and that it would qualify for an extended term as "a heinous and brutal" crime.       

  Davis and Hayes met at a bar in Alton, and Davis showed an interest in Hayes, the night before she was found dead Feb. 29, 2004, at her home in the 1300 block of Virginia Avenue.      

  Assistant State's Attorney Susan Jensen read a statement that said the evidence at trial would have shown that police took Davis' blood-stained shirt, jeans and shoes from his home shortly after the killing.

  She said DNA evidence would have shown it was Hayes' blood.

  She said Dr. Raj Nanduri would have testified to the stabbing injuries, including fatal wounds to the chest and neck. She would have testified to "poke hole" injuries, which, in other cases, have been said to indicate the victim was tortured.

  She said a footprint found in the victim's yard matched one of Davis' shoes taken as evidence.

  The statement said the evidence would have shown that Hayes called Davis' cell phone at 2:22 a.m. March 29, after her girlfriend dropped the victim off at the Virginia Avenue address.

  A cab driver would have testified to picking up Davis in Wood River after 8 a.m. March 29. "He appeared to be in a hurry," the statement said.

  Hayes' friend had planned to go shopping with the victim later that day and tried to call but received no answer.

  The friend went to the house and entered an open back door, the statement said. "There she found the lifeless, bloody body of Rachel Hayes," the statement said.

  According to the plea deal, Davis will serve at least 40 years in prison but may get up to life. A date for the sentencing has not been set. Prosecutors may introduce some of the evidence that was gathered for the trial in support of a lengthy sentence.

  Hayes' family members were extremely upset after the hearing and declined to comment.

  The case was investigated by Wood River Police and the Metropolitan St. Louis Major Case Squad.

  Capt. John Lakin, speaking for the Major Case Squad, said the officers, including the Wood River Police, diligently pursued the case.

  "Everything we did assured us we had the right person," he said. "This was one of those unfortunate cases where a young mother was brutally murdered and taken from her family."

  Davis has a criminal history dating to 1998. He has convictions for felony theft, burglary, probation violation, aggravated domestic battery and battery.

  sanford_schmidt@thetelegraph.com