Family, investigators still searching for answers in 12-year-old Osage County cold case
"I won’t ever give up," said Chanda Bobbitt. She has been looking for justice for over a decade in the death of her son Blayne Davis."Somebody knows something,
There is also an episode of "Cold Justice" on the case.
There are lots of other articles as well, I won't post them all but searching for Blayne Davis drown on a search engine will direct you to many articles. I was surprised there was nothing on him on here so I thought I would start a thread. I have always wondered what really happened.
Blake Davis was a 19 year old male teen that went with one of his best friends, JO, and JO's uncle that was close in age, CO on a camping trip to Keystone Lake. Blayne Davis was reported missing the next day, and found in deceased in the lake a day after that. There were many odd circumstances surrounding his death. It seems unclear whether it was an accidental drowning or something more nefarious.
The autopsy report showed that Davis died of drowning, manner of death being unknown. His tox screen showed Xanax (alprazolam) and a small amount of methamphetamine. He did have some bruises, but no visible injuries to his hands. Witnesses (CO, JO and extended family) have reported oxycodone may have been consumed, which may not have been tested for according to the Cold Justice show but I was unable to find a link to this. A witness from just before the camping trip, also a relative of CO and JO, reported that the three friends were also drinking heavily, to the point they were falling over, before they made it to the lake.
The morning after the lake trip, JO and CO returned to their home (they lived with JO's grandmother). CO had very extensive abrasions on his face, legs, and lower torso, as well as a black eye, and his relatives said he was being supported by JO. CO did not have significant injuries to his hands. The mother of Davis called the home, looking for her son, and that is when JO and CO advised that they had looked for Davis for several hours but had assumed he got another ride home. They had left their camping gear and personal belongings, including Davis's wallet, CO's cell phone, a gun, etc., at the campsite. Various family members and CO reported that CO was very intoxicated that night, and alternated struggling up a rocky hill and passing out on it. JO reported that he was intoxicated and slept in the truck, where he was awaken by CO in the morning.
Investigators noted an area between where the body was found in the water, and the campsite where the ground was significantly deserved. The show speculated that the body probably wouldn't have traveled far however, because the water was so shallow where he was found.
CO and JO have both requested lawyers, but have also made statements that they do not remember most of the night. JO has had several TBI's since the incident, and CO was too intoxicated to remember much. Both have categorically denied harming Davis, to their knowledge. It's worth noting that the Cold Justice investigators believed it was an accidental drowning caused by intoxication, however it is a TV show for entertainment, and the Osage County Sheriff's Office has continued to solicit information over the years. Davis's mother has been outspoken about not believing that her son's death was a simple accident. (Reagan Ledbetter for instance.) She has further stated that there are many more details to support this that were not discussed on the show.
This case has bothered me for years, and I wondered if anyone had any theories or information. I recommend watching the episode also, as it includes evidence I can't find anywhere else. It's Cold Justice Season 5 Episode 4 - Down By The Lake.
