Canton officer waves right to quick murder trial

8/29/2007
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CANTON - A police officer accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend waived his right to a speedy trial yesterday.

Canton Patrolman Bobby Cutts Jr., 30, could receive the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder in the death of Jessie Davis and her unborn daughter.

Mr. Cutts' trial was to begin Sept. 18 - within 90 days of his June 23 arrest - but he waived the speedy trial requirement at a hearing yesterday morning.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Charles E. Brown Jr. did not set a new trial date, said Marc Warner, court administrator.

Myisha Ferrell, a high school classmate of Mr. Cutts, also agreed to waive her right to a speedy trial. Ms. Ferrell, 29, faces charges of obstructing justice and complicity to abuse of a corpse. She was accused of helping dispose of the body.

Ms. Davis' disappearance in June drew national attention as thousands gathered to search for her in the area surrounding her northeast Ohio home. Authorities say she was killed June 14 in her home near North Canton, about 45 miles south of Cleveland. Ms. Davis' body, still carrying a nearly full-term fetus, was found nine days later about 25 miles away from her home in a remote area of a park.

Besides three counts of aggravated murder, Mr. Cutts faces two counts of gross abuse of a corpse and one count each of aggravated burglary and endangering children.