HOUSTON – Christmas morning brought a profound sadness to the parents of Raphael Rogers Davis, a 32-year-old father, brother, and son who was murdered last month. His parents, residents of Brookshire, have been tirelessly spreading the word about his death in Houston. “Since he’s not here, this is definitely not a normal Christmas,” his father, James Davis, told KPRC 2’s Corley Peel.
James explained that his son was last seen leaving the Harris County Jail on November 12th. Concerned for his son’s well-being, as Raphael struggled with depression, they had placed a tracker on his car. The tracker revealed that his car had been impounded. “I looked on the jail website and saw that he went on [November 11th] and was released on [November 12th]. We were expecting a call from him,” James said, noting that the call never came. Instead, James received a call from the medical examiner, informing him that his son’s body had been found near the 900 block of North York Street on November 19th. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
The circumstances surrounding Davis’ death remain unclear. His family believes his distinctive white and light purple Nike Air Jordan shoes, which he was wearing when he left jail, may hold a clue. “When they found his body, he didn’t have any shoes on. So, we don’t know if someone robbed him for his shoes or what,” James explained.
Now, Davis’ family clings to cherished Christmas memories. “My favorite Christmas memory is he would come and bring his son. And we would just spend time together, eat and just talk, laugh and have fun,” shared Sherrel Rogers, Raphael’s mother.
Their focus, however, remains firmly on obtaining justice. “We just want the killer to know that we’re never giving up. We’re going to fight until the end. So, it’s just in his best interests to just go ahead and turn [himself] in,” stated Ymica Davis, Raphael’s stepmother. James added, “This is definitely one of the Christmases that I’ll never forget. I’m not going to stop trying to find out who took my son’s life. I’m not going to stop until I breathe my last breath.”
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and/or charging of the suspect(s). Tips can be submitted by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), online at [link removed – as per original text], or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. Only tips and calls directly to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for the reward. Information can also be provided to the Houston Police Department.