Men 'Tortured' Victim During Maplewood Triple Murder: Prosecutor

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A jury has convicted two men from Atlantic County for their roles in a triple murder that took place in Maplewood last year. The two men - Lavelle T. Davis, 37, of Galloway, and Jimmy P. Mays, 34, formerly of Egg Harbor Township – face life in prison, as both have prior felony convictions, authorities said.

The triple homicide took place in January 2017, when Mays, Davis and “an unknown co-conspirator” went into a residence at 38 Van Ness Court in Maplewood looking for drugs and cash, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The three men allegedly knew the resident, Michael Davis, 45, prosecutors said.

The trio shot and killed Davis in his upstairs bedroom along with Roshana Kelson, 30, of Paterson. They also “tortured” Lance Fraser, 44, of Newark, before shooting and killing him as well, prosecutors said.

The trio then ransacked the home, took several items and fled the scene, prosecutors stated.

Local firefighters discovered the victims’ bodies when they went to the home to do a “wellness check” after family members reported they were unable to reach Davis, Kelson and Fraser, prosecutors said.

On Friday, a jury found Davis and Mays guilty of conspiracy, murder, felony murder, burglary, robbery, criminal restraint and multiple weapons offenses. Both men have prior felony convictions and face life in prison when they are sentenced on June 26, prosecutors said.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office:

• “Davis has two prior felony convictions. One for conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and a second for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Davis was convicted on April 30, 2010 and sentenced to six years in New Jersey State Prison. Under the No Early Release Act, he was required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he was eligible for parole.”
• “Mays has four prior felony convictions. On April 16, 2010, he was convicted of bailing jumping, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison.”

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