America’s Most Wanted reports he has a long list of past convictions, including breaking and entering, aggravated rape, assault and battery, kidnapping and larceny.
Lieutenant Bobby Martin said today investigators still have not established a motive in the case where Smith, 47, was beaten to death with a sharpened object. “We’ve got to get him before we can establish a motive,” he said referring to Richard Charles Demello.
Demello lived with Davis for more than a month and a half. They met each other when they were in prison.
Demello, 54, has ties to Harnett County, Rhode Island and Missouri. He allegedly stole the victim’s car, a blue 1998 Dodge Neon possibly with a spoiler, and could possibly be headed north, south or west.
The license plate is YWZ-2442.
Demello is short with a thin build and has tattoos. Efforts to locate Demello are continuing and the sheriff’s office has submitted the case to America’s Most Wanted as it is believed he left the area.
Another person was in the house at 85 Mobley Street when Davis was beaten. An unnamed woman was forced at knifepoint from one room to another where she was tied to the bed.
The woman was able to free herself and report the crime.
The sheriff’s office filed warrants against Demello for the crimes against the woman as well as a murder warrant for Davis’s death and larceny of a motor vehicle.
In the assault against the woman Demello faces charges of first-degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.
Davis died from repeated blunt force trauma to his upper torso.
Anyone with information on Demello’s location is encouraged to contact the Halifax County Sheriff's Office at 252-583-8201 or Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
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