Grandparents each seek custody of slain woman's child
A trial will determine who should care for the young son of Jessie M. Davis.
<p class="MsoNormal">Davis' parents, Patty Porter and Ned Davis, were in Stark County Family Court on Thursday, each seeking custody of their 2-year-old grandson, Blake Davis.
<p class="MsoNormal">Judge Michael Howard is scheduled to hear the case in early December.
<p class="MsoNormal">Blake has lived with Porter since June 15, when she found him alone inside his mother's Lake Township home.
<p class="MsoNormal">Authorities recovered Jessie M. Davis' body a week later in a Summit County park. The 26-year-old was 9 months pregnant when she was killed.
<p class="MsoNormal">Blake's father, Bobby L. Cutts Jr., has been charged with three counts of aggravated murder and other charges for the deaths of Jessie M. Davis and her unborn daughter, Chloe.
<p class="MsoNormal">The suspended Canton police officer has pleaded not guilty and faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
<p class="MsoNormal">Porter was the first person to seek permanent custody of Blake. Ned Davis followed with his own request in late August. The couple divorced in 2006.
<p class="MsoNormal">In court papers, Davis says he can provide a stable environment for his grandson, and intends to foster Blake's relationships with his entire extended family if granted custody.
<p class="MsoNormal">Davis also is concerned about his inability to visit Blake and the boy's exposure in the media, said attorney Diane L. Dougherty.
<p class="MsoNormal">"We wouldn't want anything to harm Blake or be detrimental to him," Dougherty said.
<p class="MsoNormal">At this point, no one from Cutts' family has requested custody of Blake, although Cutts' parents have hired a lawyer.
<p class="MsoNormal">Porter's attorney, Holly Davies, said her client is working with Blake's psychologist and the court-appointed guardian. At the hearing, both sides agreed that visitation will be handled through the psychologist.
<p class="MsoNormal">Porter "would like to go through the process and do what's best for Blake," Davies said.
<p class="MsoNormal">-- The Repository