A probable cause hearing was held Friday morning in the Dec. 2008 death of Rebecca Kathleen “Kat” Sutherland for the man accused of her murder, Jack Licurtis Davenport.
Davenport is accused of kidnapping Sutherland, along with a friend of hers, after they were picked up by the driver of a van on Dec. 1.
During the ride, Sutherland jumped from the vehicle. The Anderson County coroner ruled her death a homicide, saying she died from a brain injury resulting from a skull fracture caused by the fall.
At the hearing Friday Detective Todd Owens with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department took the stand and read statements from the driver of the van on the night of the incident.
Owens testified Davenport was asleep in the van when Patterson and the two women got in.
The driver’s statements say Davenport woke up and became angry and got into an argument with the two women.
Owens told the court Davenport pulled out a knife and told the women to get down on the floor. They began crying and said they didn’t want to die.
Owens told the court that the driver stated Davenport said all of them were going to die.
Sutherland jumped out of the door of the van while it was in motion. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Deputies said at the time of the incident the second woman fled for her life.
Davenport’s attorney was upset during the hearing because he says he has not been given all the evidence. He also had a brief confrontation with the judge. He felt the judge was not giving him adequate time to question the officer on the stand.
The victim’s family did not want to speak, but a News Channel 7 photographer talked to the victim’s advocate, who relayed their thoughts.
They say they are pleased the case is going forward, but that it is very difficult every time they have to attend these hearings.
Davenport’s attorney says there will be a new revelation when this goes to court. He says his client is innocent and that Davenport is being targeted for some reason.
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