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More Charges in Videotaped Torture and Death

By Maria Carter

Independence, MO – Richard Davis of Independence appeared in a Jackson County court to face additional charges in the death and sexual torture of Marsha Spicer. Twenty two of the charges involve Michelle Ricci, whose charred remains were found near Liberty in May. Davis is not charged in that murder. KCUR Maria Carter was in Independence and has this report.

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Richard Davis entered the Independence courtroom yesterday wearing a bulletproof vest and shackles. Davis remained quiet during the short arraignment. His attorney entering NOT guilty pleas on his behalf to all 40 felony counts, including rape, sodomy, and murder. Twenty two of the charges handed down by the grand jury involved Michelle Ricci. Davis is NOT charged in Ricci's murder. The Jackson County Prosecutors's office says Ricci's murder occurred in Clay County outside of its jurisdiction. Prosecutor Mike Sanders has sought the death penalty in three recent cases. Those cases all involved a lengthy process, but Sanders says he expects the decision about death penalty for the killing of Marsha Spicer to move more quickly.

Mike Sanders: In other cases, there were additional cases there were additional witnesses that had to be spoken with, additional scientific evidence that had to be done. From that standpoint, this case, I think, is much more clean and I think much easier from a factual standpoint than potentially a Lorenzo Gilyard or a Terry Blair.

Davis' alleged accomplice Dena Riley, is scheduled to be arraigned next week. She's expected to face 26 felony charges involving both Ricci and Spicer.

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