Saturday, June 22, 2023–8:35 p.m.
-John Bailey, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
The sentencing date has been set after a Rome man pleaded guilty Thursday to killing and mutilating a Cumming man at an East Rome home.
Brandon Christopher Risner, 23, pleaded guilty Thursday to stabbing, disfiguring and disemboweling his former friend in November 2022.
“Aaron William Davis was 21 years old when he was murdered by the defendant,” Floyd County Assistant District Attorney Leah Mayo told the judge.
Floyd County Superior Court Chief Judge John “Jack” Niedrach set the sentencing date for July 18, at 1:30 p.m.
Davis was a recent Brigham Young University-Idaho graduate, and the two men had a long history together. They went to high school together and attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cumming.
On Nov. 11, 2022, Davis came to Rome to see Risner on his way to visit other friends in Alabama. When he didn’t arrive at his destination, the Davis family reached out to police. Rome police discovered his abandoned vehicle in a ditch behind the levee at Heritage Park and the subsequent investigation led police to Risner’s home at 1002 Collinwood Road.
Police began searching the area near Risner’s home and found Davis’ mutilated body in the woods off Tumlin Drive. It was in a 6- to 8-foot hole left by a large uprooted oak tree and concealed under 6 to 12 inches of dirt, police reports stated. When contacted, Risner initially fled but later turned himself in to police.
Several mental evaluations delayed the case somewhat. However, earlier this year a state psychiatrist determined that Risner was competent to stand trial.
Risner pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, concealing the death of another, abandonment of a dead body and theft by taking, as well as misdemeanor removal of body parts from the scene of a death, tampering with evidence and obstruction of an officer. He could face as much as a life without parole sentence alongside additional prison time in the case.