Pensacola, FL – A 38-year-old Florida man, Davarius James, is on trial for murdering his girlfriend, 50-year-old Claudette Robinson, after allegedly beating her to death during an argument and then conducting a Google search asking why CPR wasn’t working hours later. Prosecutors say the killing followed a dispute over Robinson giving away his personal belongings.
The Incident: Woman Found Dead with Severe Injuries
According to an arrest affidavit, police responded to a home in the 900 block of North 7th Avenue in Pensacola around 7 a.m. on February 3 after Robinson was discovered unresponsive. Officers found the victim inside the home with an “excessive amount of blunt force trauma” to her face and chest.
“The injuries resulted in the entirety of the face being swollen and bruised, with what appears to be rug burn across the right side of her face,” the affidavit stated.
Investigators said Robinson appeared to have been assaulted for a prolonged period before her death. The woman who called 911 told police she had gone to check on Robinson at James’s request, only to find her cold to the touch and sitting in a recliner with a swollen, bruised face and a sealed right eye.
When the woman told James that 911 needed to be called, he reportedly replied, “This isn’t going to look good.” He then fled the scene before authorities arrived.
Investigation and Evidence Collected
Deputies arrived soon after and asked the witness to call James on speakerphone. During that call, he allegedly said he “would have to tell them about last night” and admitted, “She been dead.” Once informed that police were listening, he hung up, according to the affidavit.
After his arrest, detectives interviewed James, who said he and Robinson had been dating for two years and living together for about a year. He told officers they argued the night before because Robinson gave away some of his personal items without his consent, which “angered him.”
James initially claimed that Robinson fell and hit her head after he tried to grab her arm during the argument. When investigators questioned the discrepancy between the facial injuries and his account of her hitting the back of her head, James allegedly became “agitated” and changed his story, saying she fell in a “twisting fashion” that caused her to strike her face and head.
“He claimed she got up wobbly and walked to the bathroom, where he heard a crash,” the affidavit said. “James said he found her on the floor, helped her up, and guided her to bed.”
According to police, James told investigators that Robinson began shaking and rolling her eyes before becoming unresponsive. His solution, he said, was to pour cold water on her, which startled her awake briefly. He then fell asleep next to her and awoke at 7 a.m. to find her barely breathing.
Court Proceedings and Prosecutor’s Case
During opening statements, prosecutors revealed that after the incident, James used his phone to Google: “If I performed CPR over five hours ago, why isn’t it working.” They argue that the search shows he was aware Robinson was dead or dying long before calling for help.
Investigators said James then went to meet with his parole officer, leaving the victim’s body at the home. When he returned, he reportedly told her, “Yesterday is in the past, daddy is here to take care of you,” before realizing she had died.
Police said James contacted friends afterward, one of whom called 911. He was arrested shortly after and has remained in the Escambia County Jail ever since.
Prior History of Domestic Violence
Court records show that James had previous arrests for domestic violence, including an earlier case involving Robinson herself. In that incident, the victim allegedly told officers that she feared James would kill her.
Authorities said the prior report of abuse is now being used to establish a pattern of violent behavior in the ongoing murder trial. Prosecutors are seeking a conviction for first-degree murder, citing both the severity of the attack and James’s attempts to conceal the death.
Community Reaction and Legal Context
The case has reignited discussions in Florida’s Escambia County about domestic violence prevention and the resources available to victims. Advocates are urging residents to recognize early warning signs and report abuse before it escalates.
Legal experts note that domestic homicide cases often involve prior incidents of violence that go unreported or unprosecuted, underscoring the need for stronger protective measures and intervention programs.
Conclusion
As the trial continues, prosecutors are presenting evidence they say proves James brutally beat Claudette Robinson to death after an argument over personal possessions, then searched online for ways to explain her death. The jury will determine whether his actions were premeditated or the result of reckless anger.
James faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.
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