Case Explained:This article breaks down the legal background, charges, and implications of Case Explained: How The Enquirer reported on use of informants in local murder case – Legal Perspective
As Brandon Davis was being sentenced in Butler County Common Pleas Court for aggravated murder in the 2024 execution-style killing of Asiah Slone, he knew that he wanted to tell his side of the story.
He sat in the jury box, waiting to learn how long he’d spend in prison, looking at me and shaking his head up and down. A short time later, I received a message from Davis’ mother, saying he wanted to talk to me from prison.
I traveled with Enquirer staff photographer Frank Bowen to the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in May to hear what Davis had to say.
At trial, questions were raised about the evidence authorities had against Davis. His conviction hinged largely on testimony from a man who confessed to shooting Slone, as well as statements from two jailhouse informants who each gave Davis legal advice at the Butler County Jail.
A review of records in both state and federal courts showed that both informants who testified against Davis had lengthy histories with the legal system. One was a disgraced attorney awaiting federal sentencing for fraud. The other was an experienced jailhouse informant with numerous convictions, including for a 1993 killing.
Experts say jailhouse informants are used in serious cases where other evidence is limited. The practice has been linked to wrongful convictions that were later overturned.
I also spoke with Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser to understand why his office thought it necessary to use such informants to secure a conviction against Davis.
What resulted isn’t a story about guilt or innocence, but about the unsavory characters authorities will turn to in an effort to deliver justice for a high-profile and grisly killing.