Police Record Shows 11 Prior Convictions For Kidnapping Suspect

A judge in Anderson County denied bond to Jack Davenport Wednesday morning after one of the women he’s accused of kidnapping died. The detective handling the case is speaking with the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Wednesday about more possible charges following the victim’s death.

Rebecca Kathleen Southerlin - know as Kat - died Tuesday night at a hospital after investigators say she jumped out of a moving car to try to escape from Davenport.

Southerlin’s 16-year old son spoke to News Channel 7 Wednesday morning about the family’s decision to harvest her organs. “She would want someone else to have what life that’s been took from her,“ said Shannon Smith, “and I know she would be very grateful to hear that somebody’s survived because of her.“

Deputies say their investigation started around 10:30pm Monday night when they found Southerlin lying at the intersection of Smith McGee Road and Opry House Road in Iva.

Davenport is accused of kidnapping two women. One woman ran away from the scene according to deputies, but Southerlin was so scared, she jumped out of a moving car.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office says this is the third time in three months that Davenport has been arrested on kidnapping charges. He was out on bond when he was charged with Southerlin’s kidnapping.

Davenport sat quietly while the judge read the charges over a closed circuit TV hookup. Southerlin’s family asked the judge to deny bond to Davenport, which he did before 9:00am.

A SLED background check showed that Davenport has been convicted 11 times on different crimes, but only served three months and five days total for each.

The convictions include:
-Public drunkeness
-possession of marijuana
-violation of sc gun law
-disorderly conduct
-disorderly conduct
-Fraudulent check
-Fraudulent check
-Assault and battery with the intent to kill
-possession of meth
-simple possession of marijuana
-simple possession of marijuana

He’s had six other charges this year alone including petty larceny in September, two charges assuault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, possession of meth or cocaine, possession of other controlled substances and kidnapping.

Reporting by Carmen Coursey

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