FOR FURTHERINFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or

MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885  
JANUARY 8, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

SILVER SPRING STABBER SENTENCED TO OVER 8 YEARS
FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced James P. Davis, age 53, of Silver Spring, Maryland today to 97 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of a woman in the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge in Laurel, Maryland, announced United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to his plea agreement, on May 9, 2007, Davis and the victim walked down a pathway into the refuge. Davis was interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with the victim. After the victim told Davis that a romantic relationship was impossible, Davis used a folding knife to stab the victim in the back of the neck. As the victim reached toward the wound, Davis stabbed the victim at the base of the victim’s throat. The victim fell to the ground and Davis dragged the victim about 100 feet down a walking path. Thereafter, two women saw Davis running, covered with blood. He told them someone had been hurt and pointed toward the area where he had left the victim. Davis pointed a refuge officer in the victim’s direction. The victim was found in a pool of blood. By this time, Davis had fled. Prince George’s County Police and the FBI later arrested Davis.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Prince George’s County Police for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Hollis R. Weisman, who prosecuted the case.