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February 26, 2008
Posted: 09:44 PM ET

CANTON, Ohio – Jurors spent approximately 6½ hours deliberating the fate of former police officer Bobby Cutts Jr. before retiring to a hotel for the night. They return to the courthouse at 8:30 Wednesday morning to resume their work.

ALT TEXT

Bobby Cutts tears up in court.

As he did during the guilt phase of the trial two weeks ago, the judge sequestered the jury during the deliberations.Tuesday morning, jurors heard brief but passionate closing arguments from both sides. Prosecutor Dennis Barr told the jury Cutts forfeited his life by senselessly taking two lives last June — that of his ex-girlfriend, Jessie Davis, and their unborn daughter. He asked the jurors to recommend a death sentence for aggravated murder.

Defense attorneys Fernando Mack and Kaye Ranke each asked the jurors to return verdicts for the lowest of the sentence options the jury is considering: 25 years to life. Ten horrendous days last June doesn’t neutralize 30 years of good work and deeds, they argued.

In between the lowest sentence and the ultimate sentence are two more options for jurors to consider: 30 years to life, or life without the possibility of parole. If the verdicts are one of the life options, Cutts is expected to be sentenced the same day. If one or both verdicts are for death, Cutts is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced Friday afternoon.

Beth Karas, In Session correspondent

Filed under: Beth Karas • Death penalty


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debbi   February 27th, 2008 9:16 am ET

Are you kidding me??? How can anyone think it would be a good idea for this man to be around his children….. Blake one day I am sure will want to ask him Why but for him to have a parenting role?
This man left his child alone and killed his mother and baby sister in front of him….. NOT PARENTAL MATERIAL!

This child will need all the love and support he can get but not from his sperm donor.

a random person   February 27th, 2008 10:29 am ET

Keep him alive!!!

Teresa   February 27th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

Yeah, keep him alive so that he can be tortured by what he has done.

Lynn   February 27th, 2008 5:36 pm ET

He got what he deserved, his fellow prisoners will take care of the rest. Before its over he will wish he was dead!

Colette   February 27th, 2008 7:02 pm ET

I believe the judge did a great job in sentencing Bobby Cutts to 87 to life. I belive that Cutts just didn’t want her or the new baby in his life anymore and I watched the entire trial and particularly made note of his former wife mentioning that it would be very devestating for “her” as well as their daughter Brianna to imagine what it would be like to be without future contact with Cutts. I found that remark to be very speculative as a motive as to why Cutts did what he did. He has showed NO emotion when the mention of his son Blake’s name was ever mentioned but chocked up when his ex wife spoke of Brianna, Cutts’ eyes teared up immediatly and when she said she wouldn’t know how she would cope without him too. That was about the most true emotion I ever saw come from this murderer. I didn’t buy his crocodile tears on the stand and neither did the jury nor the judge!
I agree that he’s going to wish he was dead after the prison population get through to him eventually. Oh well, what goes around comes around Bobby Cutts and now is your time to suffer every day for the rest of your life when you thought nothing about saving your baby’s life either!!! I hope you are haunted each moment of the rest of your life for what you did to so many people that you have destroyed their lives by your actions!!!

Marie Levy, Greenwich, CT   February 27th, 2008 7:19 pm ET

While the jury gave him a pass by giving him 30 to Life, the judge was able to even the score by stacking up the further punishments so that his final tally was 57 to Live. Hurrah for the judge! I guess he thought the jury should have found live without parole so he decided to bring things more into line with justice. While they will probably try to get a new trial on the gounds of ineffective defense by his lawyers since they didn’t object to what the judge did, it was pretty clear to me that this was a ploy by the defense so they could ust just this excuse. Hopefully the counrts will recognize it for what it is and leave things as they are. Maybe then this family will be able to have some peace! And maybe Blake will some day understand that this was done for him as well as for his Mom who died for him.

Barbara in Ohio   February 28th, 2008 12:39 am ET

For everyone who does not know the pain of loosing Jessie and Chloe
you need to take a lesson fro Ms. Porter. She is suffering in a way no mother or grand mother should ever have to suffer.Yet through her suffering she asked the Judge to show Mercy. She asked him to allow Cutts a way that he may be allowed to “Start a new life” “a time that he may be able to hold his son in his arms again.”It is a shame with all this woman has lost that the Judge took this away from her too.
My heart ached for her today more than ever. All who wish the worst for Cutts and condem him should think about this woman who lost her daughter and grand daughter because of this man.You should hope to one day have what this woman showed us today.I think she is the example of humanity which ALL people could only hope to become.She showed the compassion and forgiveness only spoken of in one book of all I have ever read, the Bible. Ms Porter you are a Saint. May God be with you always.

Lisa75   February 28th, 2008 9:21 am ET

I dont think the sentence fits the crime. Cutts should have got the death penalty for taking the life of 2 humans and endangering the life of his 2 year old son. What makes matters worse is that he killed Davis in front of Blake. I pray that Blake is not haunted by this later on in his life. Cutts does not deserve another second with Blake and does not deserve to be around any other children!!! Cutts also had no emotional reaction when the judge was sentencing him and put on a GREAT show when he was on the stand. So great that he convinced the jurors. Cutts may regret killing Davis but he wanted to kill her..whatever happen to CPR or calling paramedics…this fool drowned her in bleach then dumped her body…i dont buy his story. may the lives that were lost rest in peace and I pray for Blake, the Davis family and all the lives that were shattered by this horrible man.

Susan H   February 28th, 2008 9:49 am ET

I am a true born and raised Ohioan. In fact I grew up south of the Akron Canton area.

I am soooooooo upset over this situation. First of all … he killed her and her unborn child WITH NO REMORSE! Secondly .. he disposed of her WITH NO REMORSE! Thirdly … he showed absolutely no concern for little Blake.

As her sister basically said … you only feel bad because you got caught! I do not know HOW in the world he got life with a chance of parole!?!?!?!?!

As a police officer, why didn’t he make an attempt to save the baby? Why didn’t he call 911 if he did not intend to harm her????? He saved 2 lifes in his past as a police officer (according to his atty)! So it is obvious how insignificant Jessie and his children are to him.

I also cannot believe Jessie’s Mom asked to spare his life!!!!!!!! I agree with the Dad … give me some quality time with you!

I just cannot believe that that jury actually spared his life??? Were they borrowed from O J’s murder Trial????

Now my tax money will go to support this worthless piece of flesh for many years until some other bleeding heart releases him back into society!

amy toiber   February 28th, 2008 9:55 am ET

After hearing cutts defense team after the verdict speak, I was frankly sickened by their comments. “He was under intense pressure” they said while facing the family of Jesse. Well, BOO HOO! This man should have received the death penalty or the very least life without parole. this is just one of the problems of our so called justice system. Cutts “didn’t mean to kill jesse and her baby?” Are you kidding me? Murder doesn’t happen like a sneeze, oraccidently tripping on the rug…Oh yeah, he rolled Jesse up in the rug (in front of her baby boy)…don’t you just hate when that Happens??!! I only have to wonder g-d forbid this happened to the defense teams family if they would feel satisfied with the verdict…I think not..Oh and Cutts “didn’t know what to do?” Is this the same man who seemed to know exactly what to do while a police officer? Didn’t panic when a gun was facing him,,only when he was facing his own evil deeds.

angie   February 28th, 2008 10:05 am ET

i have been watching the trial about Bobby Cutts. One thing i dont understand is how an ex-cop is suppose to protect and serve and had a chance to save Jesse Davis’ life and little baby Cleo and didnt. I dont understand how the jury could spare a life of someone that is suppose to do his job, but decided to turn his back on Jesse Davis and not only her baby, but his baby as well. I honestly dont think i could have been on that jury. I think Bobby Cutts was very selfish in his decision and i think the jury should have gave him the penality for the crime he done. I dont believe he should get the chance to see the outside of a prison again. I dont think he should get a chance to live the rest of his life even though he will be in prison for the remaining days he is on this earth. And to the Davis family, i am truly sorry about your lose and to little Blake, i hate to know that you have to grow up without a mother that didnt even get a chance to show you how much she loves you. But to you all, keep your heads up and make the last memories of Jesse th best memories ever. She will always be in your hearts and now she is each and everyone of your guarding angel.

Patricia Mraz   February 28th, 2008 10:12 am ET

Bobby Cutts sentence of 57 years is awsome! And just a quick FYI… I’ve been to the park where Jessie’s body was recovered and guess what?…This is a very secluded park. You would never know it was there unless you had been there before. The entrance isn’t even marked. He planned this, he planned this, HE PLANNED THIS!

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