Grand jury to consider case of third suspect charged in Sawyer’s disappearance

The third suspect arrested for his alleged role in the December disappearance of Justin Tyler Sawyer appeared for a hearing Friday morning in Christian District Court.

Kentucky State Police say 22-year old Marquell Devont’e Sims of Oak Grove was in the car with 20-year old Dawuan Davis of Oak Grove and Sawyer on December 17 during a drug deal gone bad that led to Davis allegedly shooting Sawyer five times.

Sims reportedly got out of the car after the first two shots were fired and walked across KY 115 from the car at the Shell Station to the Pilot gas station. Police say Davis later in the night used the help of 36-year old Gene “Doug” Henry of Oak Grove to move Sawyer’s body from the back seat to the trunk of his stolen car.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sims Friday, but Assistant County Attorney Katherine Foster said there was an agreement in place to waive the case to the Christian County Grand Jury and to release him from jail on his own recognizance.

Judge Foster Cotthoff agreed, releasing him from jail under several conditions including being placed on an ankle monitor.

Davis and Sims are charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and kidnapping. Henry is charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

The grand jury already has the files of Henry and Davis following action Wednesday morning in district court.