Topline: Prosecutors said the disturbing search helped establish a timeline of the attack that left Claudette Robinson dead from massive blunt force injuries and strangulation.
Published: October 24, 2025 8:23 am ET
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Davarius James (via Escambia County Sheriff’s Office)
PENSACOLA, FL — It took a Florida jury less than half an hour to decide that Davarius James was guilty of killing his girlfriend after what prosecutors described as a brutal beating and strangulation inside their Pensacola home.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, jurors on Oct. 23 found 38-year-old James guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 50-year-old Claudette Robinson. Prosecutors said Robinson’s injuries—including broken ribs, a fractured throat cartilage, and extensive internal bleeding—were the result of a violent attack, not the “falls” James claimed caused her death.
The case began when police were called to a home on North 7th Avenue around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3. Officers found Robinson dead inside, her face swollen, bruised, and marked by what appeared to be rug burn, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law & Crime. The Pensacola Police Department said at the time that the circumstances appeared suspicious, and investigators quickly identified James as a suspect.
According to Law & Crime, a woman who knew both James and Robinson told police she went to check on the couple after James called her that morning. When she arrived, Robinson was sitting unresponsive in a recliner, “cold to the touch,” with a bruise sealing her right eye shut. When the friend said they needed to call 911, James allegedly replied, “This isn’t going to look good,” claiming Robinson had fallen. He fled before police arrived.
When officers later reached James by phone, he allegedly said he would “have to tell them about last night” and admitted that “she been dead,” before hanging up once told police were listening, according to the affidavit cited by Law & Crime.
In interviews after his arrest, James told investigators he and Robinson had argued the night before about her giving away his belongings. He claimed she fell twice during the fight—first hitting her face, then the back of her head—and that she later began “shaking” with her eyes rolling back. He told detectives he poured cold water on her “to shock her awake,” according to Law & Crime. James said he believed she was still alive when he fell asleep next to her and left the next morning to meet his parole officer.
But prosecutors told jurors the evidence pointed to a vicious assault. During opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Andrew McGraw said Robinson’s body showed catastrophic injuries consistent with a beating, not a fall. The Pensacola News Journal reported that Robinson suffered broken ribs, a fractured chest plate, and hemorrhaging in the spinal cord and brain. Her right eye was swollen shut, and there was evidence of air in her blood vessels—signs, McGraw said, of both blunt-force trauma and strangulation.
After his arrest, investigators discovered an unsettling digital trail on James’ phone. According to Law & Crime and the Pensacola News Journal, he searched “how to perform CPR” early on the morning of Feb. 3 and later typed, “If I performed CPR over five hours ago, why isn’t it working?” He also searched for “how long CPR takes to work,” “how long someone can survive from CPR,” and “how to tell if a person was choked by the neck.”
Police also accused James of trying to clean the scene, allegedly washing bloody sheets and clothing before calling for help, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
A family friend, Essie Rease—known in court as “Auntie Essie”—testified that James asked her to come to the home that afternoon because Robinson “might be in trouble.” When Rease arrived, she found Robinson unresponsive and cold. After suggesting they call 911, she said James responded, “I have to go,” and left before police arrived.
When Pensacola Police officers responded to the 911 call, WKRG reported that investigators noted inconsistencies between the time of Robinson’s death and the timing of the emergency call. Sergeant Britney Sturgeon told the station at the time that the delay raised immediate red flags, saying, “It wasn’t something that just occurred… there was a lack of reporting of her death.”
James, who was 37 at the time of his arrest, was charged with second-degree murder without premeditation, tampering with evidence, resisting an officer without violence, and failing to report a death, according to WKRG. He has remained in the Escambia County Jail since his arrest.
During the weeklong trial, James’ defense attorney, Jeremy Early, waived an opening statement and planned to present the defense only during closing arguments. Prosecutors, meanwhile, told jurors the evidence left little doubt that Robinson died as a result of a prolonged beating.
On Thursday, the jury agreed. As reported by the Pensacola News Journal, it took them less than 30 minutes to return a guilty verdict on all charges.
James now faces up to life in prison when sentenced for the killing of Claudette Robinson.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Florida Jury Convicts Man Who Searched ‘Why Isn’t CPR Working?’ After Beating Girlfriend to Death
Prosecutors said the disturbing search helped establish a timeline of the attack that left Claudette Robinson dead from massive blunt force injuries and strangulation.
By Jacob Charles
Published: October 24, 2025 8:23 am ET
Davarius James (via Escambia County Sheriff’s Office)
PENSACOLA, FL — It took a Florida jury less than half an hour to decide that Davarius James was guilty of killing his girlfriend after what prosecutors described as a brutal beating and strangulation inside their Pensacola home.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, jurors on Oct. 23 found 38-year-old James guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 50-year-old Claudette Robinson. Prosecutors said Robinson’s injuries—including broken ribs, a fractured throat cartilage, and extensive internal bleeding—were the result of a violent attack, not the “falls” James claimed caused her death.
The case began when police were called to a home on North 7th Avenue around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3. Officers found Robinson dead inside, her face swollen, bruised, and marked by what appeared to be rug burn, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law & Crime. The Pensacola Police Department said at the time that the circumstances appeared suspicious, and investigators quickly identified James as a suspect.
According to Law & Crime, a woman who knew both James and Robinson told police she went to check on the couple after James called her that morning. When she arrived, Robinson was sitting unresponsive in a recliner, “cold to the touch,” with a bruise sealing her right eye shut. When the friend said they needed to call 911, James allegedly replied, “This isn’t going to look good,” claiming Robinson had fallen. He fled before police arrived.
When officers later reached James by phone, he allegedly said he would “have to tell them about last night” and admitted that “she been dead,” before hanging up once told police were listening, according to the affidavit cited by Law & Crime.
In interviews after his arrest, James told investigators he and Robinson had argued the night before about her giving away his belongings. He claimed she fell twice during the fight—first hitting her face, then the back of her head—and that she later began “shaking” with her eyes rolling back. He told detectives he poured cold water on her “to shock her awake,” according to Law & Crime. James said he believed she was still alive when he fell asleep next to her and left the next morning to meet his parole officer.
But prosecutors told jurors the evidence pointed to a vicious assault. During opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Andrew McGraw said Robinson’s body showed catastrophic injuries consistent with a beating, not a fall. The Pensacola News Journal reported that Robinson suffered broken ribs, a fractured chest plate, and hemorrhaging in the spinal cord and brain. Her right eye was swollen shut, and there was evidence of air in her blood vessels—signs, McGraw said, of both blunt-force trauma and strangulation.
After his arrest, investigators discovered an unsettling digital trail on James’ phone. According to Law & Crime and the Pensacola News Journal, he searched “how to perform CPR” early on the morning of Feb. 3 and later typed, “If I performed CPR over five hours ago, why isn’t it working?” He also searched for “how long CPR takes to work,” “how long someone can survive from CPR,” and “how to tell if a person was choked by the neck.”
Police also accused James of trying to clean the scene, allegedly washing bloody sheets and clothing before calling for help, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
A family friend, Essie Rease—known in court as “Auntie Essie”—testified that James asked her to come to the home that afternoon because Robinson “might be in trouble.” When Rease arrived, she found Robinson unresponsive and cold. After suggesting they call 911, she said James responded, “I have to go,” and left before police arrived.
When Pensacola Police officers responded to the 911 call, WKRG reported that investigators noted inconsistencies between the time of Robinson’s death and the timing of the emergency call. Sergeant Britney Sturgeon told the station at the time that the delay raised immediate red flags, saying, “It wasn’t something that just occurred… there was a lack of reporting of her death.”
James, who was 37 at the time of his arrest, was charged with second-degree murder without premeditation, tampering with evidence, resisting an officer without violence, and failing to report a death, according to WKRG. He has remained in the Escambia County Jail since his arrest.
During the weeklong trial, James’ defense attorney, Jeremy Early, waived an opening statement and planned to present the defense only during closing arguments. Prosecutors, meanwhile, told jurors the evidence left little doubt that Robinson died as a result of a prolonged beating.
On Thursday, the jury agreed. As reported by the Pensacola News Journal, it took them less than 30 minutes to return a guilty verdict on all charges.
James now faces up to life in prison when sentenced for the killing of Claudette Robinson.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Florida Jury Convicts Man Who Searched ‘Why Isn’t CPR Working?’ After Beating Girlfriend to Death
Prosecutors said the disturbing search helped establish a timeline of the attack that left Claudette Robinson dead from massive blunt force injuries and strangulation.
By Jacob Charles
Published: October 24, 2025 8:23 am ET
Davarius James (via Escambia County Sheriff’s Office)
PENSACOLA, FL — It took a Florida jury less than half an hour to decide that Davarius James was guilty of killing his girlfriend after what prosecutors described as a brutal beating and strangulation inside their Pensacola home.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, jurors on Oct. 23 found 38-year-old James guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 50-year-old Claudette Robinson. Prosecutors said Robinson’s injuries—including broken ribs, a fractured throat cartilage, and extensive internal bleeding—were the result of a violent attack, not the “falls” James claimed caused her death.
The case began when police were called to a home on North 7th Avenue around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3. Officers found Robinson dead inside, her face swollen, bruised, and marked by what appeared to be rug burn, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law & Crime. The Pensacola Police Department said at the time that the circumstances appeared suspicious, and investigators quickly identified James as a suspect.
According to Law & Crime, a woman who knew both James and Robinson told police she went to check on the couple after James called her that morning. When she arrived, Robinson was sitting unresponsive in a recliner, “cold to the touch,” with a bruise sealing her right eye shut. When the friend said they needed to call 911, James allegedly replied, “This isn’t going to look good,” claiming Robinson had fallen. He fled before police arrived.
When officers later reached James by phone, he allegedly said he would “have to tell them about last night” and admitted that “she been dead,” before hanging up once told police were listening, according to the affidavit cited by Law & Crime.
In interviews after his arrest, James told investigators he and Robinson had argued the night before about her giving away his belongings. He claimed she fell twice during the fight—first hitting her face, then the back of her head—and that she later began “shaking” with her eyes rolling back. He told detectives he poured cold water on her “to shock her awake,” according to Law & Crime. James said he believed she was still alive when he fell asleep next to her and left the next morning to meet his parole officer.
But prosecutors told jurors the evidence pointed to a vicious assault. During opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Andrew McGraw said Robinson’s body showed catastrophic injuries consistent with a beating, not a fall. The Pensacola News Journal reported that Robinson suffered broken ribs, a fractured chest plate, and hemorrhaging in the spinal cord and brain. Her right eye was swollen shut, and there was evidence of air in her blood vessels—signs, McGraw said, of both blunt-force trauma and strangulation.
After his arrest, investigators discovered an unsettling digital trail on James’ phone. According to Law & Crime and the Pensacola News Journal, he searched “how to perform CPR” early on the morning of Feb. 3 and later typed, “If I performed CPR over five hours ago, why isn’t it working?” He also searched for “how long CPR takes to work,” “how long someone can survive from CPR,” and “how to tell if a person was choked by the neck.”
Police also accused James of trying to clean the scene, allegedly washing bloody sheets and clothing before calling for help, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
A family friend, Essie Rease—known in court as “Auntie Essie”—testified that James asked her to come to the home that afternoon because Robinson “might be in trouble.” When Rease arrived, she found Robinson unresponsive and cold. After suggesting they call 911, she said James responded, “I have to go,” and left before police arrived.
When Pensacola Police officers responded to the 911 call, WKRG reported that investigators noted inconsistencies between the time of Robinson’s death and the timing of the emergency call. Sergeant Britney Sturgeon told the station at the time that the delay raised immediate red flags, saying, “It wasn’t something that just occurred… there was a lack of reporting of her death.”
James, who was 37 at the time of his arrest, was charged with second-degree murder without premeditation, tampering with evidence, resisting an officer without violence, and failing to report a death, according to WKRG. He has remained in the Escambia County Jail since his arrest.
During the weeklong trial, James’ defense attorney, Jeremy Early, waived an opening statement and planned to present the defense only during closing arguments. Prosecutors, meanwhile, told jurors the evidence left little doubt that Robinson died as a result of a prolonged beating.
On Thursday, the jury agreed. As reported by the Pensacola News Journal, it took them less than 30 minutes to return a guilty verdict on all charges.
James now faces up to life in prison when sentenced for the killing of Claudette Robinson.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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