Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that two Atlantic County men were sentenced to more than 100 years in New Jersey State Prison for murdering three people in Maplewood.
The Honorable Richard T. Sules, Judge of the Superior Court, sentenced Jimmy Mays, 35, to 153 years and Lavelle Davis, 38, to 138 years for killing and torturing Lance Frasier, 44, of Newark and murdering Roshana Kelson, 30, of Paterson and Michael Davis, 45, of Maplewood.
Officials say all three were killed in Michael Davis’ home by Lavelle Davis, 37, of Galloway and Mays, 34, of Egg Harbor Township. An unidentified, unindicted co-conspirator was never charged.
The triple murder occurred in January of 2017. The defendants, who knew the victims, came to Michael Davis’ home at 38 Van Ness Court looking for drugs and cash. They killed Michael Davis and Kelson, who were sleeping, and tortured Frasier before also killing him. All three were fatally shot.
According to authorities, when family members were unable to reach the victims, Maplewood firefighters went to the home to make a wellness check. That is when they discovered the victims' bodies.
Officials say both men were convicted by an Essex County jury of conspiracy, murder, felony murder, burglary, robbery, criminal restraint and multiple weapons offenses. Assistant Prosecutor Carlo Fioranelli tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Sean Dickson.
At sentencing yesterday Assistant Prosecutor Fioranelli urged the judge to impose consecutive life sentences for each of the three murders saying it was warranted given the facts of the case.
Judge Sules agreed and imposed a 46-year sentence for all three counts of murder in Lavelle Davis’ case and 51-year sentence for all three counts of murder in Mays’ case. Under the No Early Release Act, they must serve 85 percent of their respective sentences before being eligible for parole.
Officials say Lavelle Davis had two prior felony convictions before being convicted of the triple murder. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and aggravated assault. Mays has four prior felony convictions. He was previously convicted of possession of a narcotics, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and jumping bail.
“No punishment will ever compensate the Kelson, Frasier, and Davis families for their tragic losses. I hope the sentence imposed today gives the families some sense of justice in this horrific situation and that the families continue to heal following the heartbreaking and untimely loss of loved ones,” said Assistant Prosecutor Fioranelli.