Accused Mom Denies Killing 2-Year-Old Son on the Stand

[00:00:00] Speaker ?: Mr. Davis, let me have you bring your right hand, please. [00:00:05] Speaker 1: You saw this where I'm from, the testimony you give this honorable court to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, self-gadded, so say I did it. Okay, Mr. Davis, I need for you to speak slowly and loudly so the court reporter can take down all the testimony and the jury, the court's community, as well as the judge. Mr. Davis, you are the defendant in this action, are you not? And do you understand that you're under indictment of these seven charges that have been presented here to this jury during this week? Is that correct? Correct. Do you understand, Mr. Davis, that you are under no obligation to testify? Correct. That if you should decide to not testify, then this jury cannot infer or think anything harmful towards you because of your silence. Do you understand that? Yes. Do you also understand that if you should decide not to testify, that the district attorney's office could not argue to the jury that you're holding something back? [00:01:13] Speaker ?: Yes. [00:01:14] Speaker 1: And if you do give testimony, then you'll be subject to cross-examination by the district attorney's office. I do. Knowing that, do you wish to testify here today? I do. All right. Yes, speak up for me, okay, Ms. Davis? Ms. Davis, just make sure that we have your complete full name. Tell us that, please. [00:01:39] Keanu Davis: Keanu Davis. [00:01:41] Speaker 1: What is your middle name? [00:01:42] Keanu Davis: Ayesha Renee. [00:01:45] Speaker 1: And tell me the date that you were born? [00:01:47] Keanu Davis: December 12, 1990. [00:01:49] Speaker 1: And where were you born at? [00:01:51] Keanu Davis: In Merlin, South Carolina. [00:01:55] Speaker 1: Ms. Davis, are you a high school graduate? [00:01:58] Keanu Davis: I am. [00:01:59] Speaker 1: Where did you graduate from and when? [00:02:01] Keanu Davis: Warner Robins High School in 2009. [00:02:06] Speaker 1: Have you lived in Warner Robins most of your life? [00:02:09] Keanu Davis: Warner Robins, South Carolina. [00:02:15] Speaker 1: Are you married? Have you ever been married? No. Did you give birth to any children? I did. And who was that child? [00:02:24] Keanu Davis: Carter. [00:02:25] Speaker 1: What name was Carter Boyd? [00:02:28] Keanu Davis: January 14, 2018. [00:02:31] Speaker 1: And where was he born at? [00:02:33] Keanu Davis: In Macon, Georgia. [00:02:36] Speaker 1: And when did Carter pass away? [00:02:39] Keanu Davis: He passed away November 17th of 2020. [00:02:44] Speaker 1: Who's the father of Carter? [00:02:50] Keanu Davis: He passed away November 17th of 2020. [00:02:55] Speaker 1: Let me ask you this, Ms. Davis. Were you and Mr. Ambrose, were you living with each other at the time that Carter was conceived? At the time that he was conceived, no. [00:03:20] Keanu Davis: But when I found out I was pregnant, yes. [00:03:22] Speaker 1: Okay. And where were you living at that time? [00:03:27] Keanu Davis: At the time he was conceived. [00:03:29] Speaker 1: Right. [00:03:30] Keanu Davis: I believe I was back at my grandfather's house. [00:03:33] Speaker 1: And who's your grandfather? [00:03:34] Keanu Davis: James Kennedy. [00:03:36] Speaker 1: And Mr. Kennedy testified yesterday, is that right? [00:03:39] Speaker 3: Yes, he did. And what is his address? Is that where you're living at now? It is currently. [00:03:51] Speaker 1: And so at some point in time, you were with a child, is that correct? Yes. And Kadeem Ambrose was the father of that child, is that right? Yes, that's correct. At some point in time, did you and he moved in together? We did. When would that move in? [00:04:16] Speaker ?: Approximately? [00:04:18] Keanu Davis: Approximately, maybe immediately after I found out I was pregnant, or maybe like a month or two afterwards. [00:04:29] Speaker 1: And where did you move in with Mr. Ambrose? [00:04:34] Keanu Davis: We moved to Sandpiper Apartments. [00:04:37] Speaker 1: And that's in Water Robins, is that correct? That's correct. Is that off Russell Parkway? That is correct. So at this apartment where, until the vacuum was warm, is it just you and he? Correct. Where was he working at? [00:04:54] Keanu Davis: He was a firepower for the time. [00:04:57] Speaker ?: He was a firepower. [00:04:58] Speaker 1: And he testified that he not yesterday. Correct. And at that time, where were you employed at? [00:05:05] Keanu Davis: I was, I believe I was working at Jeddick at the time, but then I switched off to a dermatology office. [00:05:14] Speaker 1: Where was this dermatology office at? In Maine. And this is while you were pregnant with the car, is that correct? Correct. Were you in college at the time? [00:05:28] Keanu Davis: I believe I was taking some extra classes. I had already gotten one degree, but I was getting certified for a specific programming language. [00:05:38] Speaker 1: And where did you get your bachelor's degree from? Mercer University. Mercer University. At Lincoln? Yes. And what was that degree in? [00:05:45] Keanu Davis: Software application development and human computer interaction. [00:05:49] Speaker 1: And you say that you were taking some extra classes at that time, is that right? [00:05:56] Keanu Davis: I was taking, this was before I'm going to Mercer, I was taking extra, I already had a degree in web design and web development, so I was just continuing my education by taking more classes to get certified in a specific programming language. [00:06:10] Speaker 1: Okay, what specific programming were you going into? [00:06:12] Speaker ?: Java programming. Pardon? [00:06:14] Keanu Davis: Java is a programming language, so I was getting certified for that specific programming. Okay. [00:06:20] Speaker 1: Were these classes that were going towards a master's degree? [00:06:23] Keanu Davis: After getting software application development, yes, I did get a master's degree after that. [00:06:28] Speaker 1: All right, so at some point in time after you got your degree from Mercer, did you begin teaching? [00:06:40] Keanu Davis: I was teaching before already, I was working for Central Georgia Technical College as an industrial aid, so essentially I was teaching. Okay, excellent. Tell us, you're working from where? Central Georgia Technical College. I was working as an industrial aid, so essentially my job was to run all of the technology in the classrooms that were being ran by the college for the enrollment here in Ohio State College. [00:07:09] Speaker 1: And essentially, this is off Cohen Walker, is that right? Correct. [00:07:14] Speaker ?: And when did you start working for them? [00:07:19] Keanu Davis: I believe around June of 2019. [00:07:24] Speaker 1: And this is after the baby was born, is that correct? Correct. Were you and Dean Ambrose still living together at that time? Yes, we were. All right. Now, tell the jury if you would, if you worked for the college there, where that job took you to? [00:07:49] Keanu Davis: So, my main location and my office was in Jones County in Millichville, Georgia, where I spent most of my time until COVID happened, and then due to low staffing, I had to then take over other offices in the Warner Robins area. [00:08:05] Speaker 1: Oh, okay. You take other offices at other schools, is that correct? Correct. Which other schools would you work in? The Housing County Career Academy here in Warner Robins. And that's off Russell Parkway? That is correct. [00:08:13] Speaker ?: Okay. And where else? The Central Georgia Technical College at Cohen Walker. Okay. And were you still working at the school at Jones County? Yes. I worked in all of them. Okay. [00:08:21] Keanu Davis: How often would you go to these different locations? [00:08:24] Speaker 1: Would you report every morning to the college and then drive to the Jones County High School? How would you do that? It would depend on which classes I was monitoring that day. So, I would typically get a schedule for the semester at the beginning of the semester. [00:08:36] Speaker ?: And it depends on whether or not the teacher was working. So, it would depend on whether or not the teacher was working. So, I would typically get a schedule for the semester at the beginning of the semester. [00:08:43] Keanu Davis: And it depends on whether or not the teacher was canceling the class or not. They would let me know that I would either go to the location or I would stay in my office in Jones County. [00:09:07] Speaker 1: Would you do this five days a week? Five days a week, yes. [00:09:10] Keanu Davis: Okay. [00:09:11] Speaker 1: And in doing this, Carr, did you continue to teach? When did you leave teaching here for the college? [00:09:29] Keanu Davis: I signed my contract with Winnett County Public Schools in October of 2021. So, I was scheduled to leave here and start working there in January of 2021. I'm sorry. [00:09:43] Speaker 1: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. [00:09:45] Keanu Davis: I signed my contract October of 2020 with Winnett County. And I was supposed to start working with Winnett County in January of 2021. [00:09:53] Speaker 1: And when Carter passed away in November? Yes. He ended up passing away in November. [00:09:57] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:09:58] Speaker 1: Now, so I take it, because we're doing these things in a sequence, you, after Carter passed away, did you subsequently move to Winnett County? I moved to Winnett County when I started my job. [00:10:23] Keanu Davis: So, I would stay maybe a week before the semester begins, so around January 6th of 2021. And what school did you work at? At the time, I was scheduled at Peachtree Ridge High School. [00:10:37] Speaker 1: And how long did you stay there? [00:10:39] Keanu Davis: I stayed for a year and a half, because I was promoted after that. [00:10:44] Speaker 1: And did you stay at that school, or did you go to another school? [00:10:48] Keanu Davis: I went to open a school. That was part of my promotion to help open the science department at secondary school. You're on a new approach. [00:10:56] Speaker ?: Yep. Go ahead. Ms. Davis, tell us again as to which high school you went to work for after that school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. I'm going to go to the next school. So, I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. And I'm going to go to the next school. Go ahead. [00:11:50] Speaker 1: Ms. Davis, tell us again as to which high school you went to work for after Peachtree Ridge. S-E-C-K-I-N-G-E-R. [00:11:58] Speaker ?: S-E-C-K-I-N-G-E-R. [00:12:01] Speaker 1: And that was a high school, a public high school? [00:12:04] Keanu Davis: Yes, it had just opened. And you went to the next school? Yes. [00:12:11] Speaker 1: And you stayed there until that you were arrested on this charge? That's right. And that was when? [00:12:19] Keanu Davis: That was in October of 2013. [00:12:30] Speaker 1: And since you were arrested, you were prevented from continuing to teach, is that correct? At that school? [00:12:38] Keanu Davis: Because I cannot physically do this. So that was my only condition. [00:12:44] Speaker 1: And you're currently living with your grandfather under house arrest, is that correct? That's correct. And that's in Little Robbins? That's correct. [00:12:54] Speaker 3: Your Honor, this isn't relevant. The objection sustained. The jury will disregard any reference to the conditions of her for trial release. Moving on. All right. [00:13:04] Speaker 1: Now, Ms. Davis, let me ask you this. Carter, his date of birth again was when? [00:13:14] Keanu Davis: January 14, 2019. [00:13:16] Speaker 1: And at the time that Carter was born, did he develop any problems as far as being sickly? [00:13:29] Keanu Davis: Yes, he did. [00:13:30] Speaker 1: Okay. [00:13:31] Speaker ?: Okay. Once again, you were living in San Piper Park with Mr. Ambrose. I was. Was Carter hospitalized soon after he was born? [00:13:35] Speaker 1: I'm not sure how soon it was, but he was hospitalized for sure right before his first birth. [00:13:42] Speaker ?: And for what type of problems? He was having breathing issues and he was admitted into the NICU for a few days. The NICU where? [00:13:44] Speaker 1: In Maine. [00:13:45] Speaker ?: In Maine. [00:13:46] Speaker 1: The NICU. The NICU. In Maine. At the time that. [00:13:50] Keanu Davis: The NICU was. The NICU, where? In Maine. The NICU, where? The NICU. The NICU, where? In Maine. The NICU. [00:13:58] Speaker ?: The NICU. The NICU, where? In Maine. [00:14:01] Speaker 1: For what type of problems? [00:14:03] Keanu Davis: He was having breathing issues and he was admitted into the NICU for three days. The NICU where? In Maine. [00:14:13] Speaker 1: At the time that this happened, were you and Mr. Ambrose still living with each other? Yes, we were. At some point in time, who was your doctor for CARTA? [00:14:31] Speaker ?: Dr. Waters. [00:14:32] Speaker 1: And where was Dr. Waters at? [00:14:34] Keanu Davis: At Primary Pediatrics. [00:14:36] Speaker 1: And that's the Primary Pediatrics that we've been talking about all week, is that correct? Right. At some point in time, did you and Mr. Ambrose move from where you were living at Santa Piper Apartments? We did. Where did you move to? [00:14:52] Keanu Davis: We moved to 6080 Lakeview Road, which was right next to the doctor's office. How far away? There's 6080 too, so I would say maybe a few yards. Not even. [00:15:06] Speaker 1: And was that primarily a reason for you moving to this location? [00:15:11] Keanu Davis: Yes, because of my child's mental conditions, I felt more comfortable moving closer to the doctor's office. [00:15:18] Speaker 1: Would it be a fair statement to say that you spent a lot of time at the pediatric place? A lot of time, yes. A lot of time, yes. I would say, I mean, yes. And you were aware or did not of all the medical reports that were provided by their business, is that correct? That's correct. And as far as you know, this is a true and accurate representation of the times that you took order to that place for treatment, is that right? Yes, correct. What type of treatments? What type of treatments? [00:15:48] Keanu Davis: You mean what type of things that did he go for? Right. He's been for allergic reactions. He's mainly been for issues and minor check-ups, regular check-ups, and any COVID test. Go with that now. [00:16:02] Speaker ?: You can do that. [00:16:02] Keanu Davis: At some point in time, did the relationship between yourself and Mr. Ambrose, did it dissolve or handle? [00:16:16] Speaker ?: It did. [00:16:17] Speaker 1: When would that have been? I really can't tell you when it started to dissolve, but I know for sure when he moved out in March of 2021, 2020. [00:16:32] Keanu Davis: Okay. He moved out in March of 2020, is that right? [00:16:50] Speaker 1: Correct. And you were still teaching at the college, is that right? That's correct. During this period of time, you say it was March of 2020 when Mr. Ambrose moved out? That's correct. Did you maintain contact with him from the time that he left until Carter passed away? [00:17:24] Keanu Davis: Contact as in regarding the child list. [00:17:29] Speaker 1: Was he paying child support? He was. [00:17:32] Keanu Davis: We had an agreement before I actually initiated the court order on child support. All right. [00:17:40] Speaker 1: Now, during this particular period of time, after Mr. Ambrose left, where was Carter being, was he getting daycare? Or how would you do it about keeping when you worked? [00:18:02] Keanu Davis: Yes. So, I would take him to daycare before work, and then I would pick him up in academics, unless his father was off from work, or was able to, because his schedule didn't allow him to take him to work, because he didn't get off any time for a minute. [00:18:17] Speaker 1: All right. And what was his daycare at? [00:18:20] Keanu Davis: Off the Russell Parkway, New Year, Warren was in his school. [00:18:26] Speaker 1: Would that have been with Ms. Thar for testifying this morning? That's correct. And how often would Ms. Thar keep Carter? [00:18:36] Keanu Davis: She would keep him pretty much every day, unless I had a day off, or his father had a day off. [00:18:43] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:18:44] Speaker 1: And did that involvement between yourself and Mr. Ambrose, was that fairly successful as far as looking after Carter? Sure. [00:18:57] Speaker ?: Yes. [00:18:58] Speaker 1: Okay. Is there any problems with that? No. [00:19:01] Keanu Davis: Because we did everything around the state. Yeah. [00:19:03] Speaker 1: The schedule that Mr. Ambrose worked with the fire department was, as he testified yesterday, 24 on, about 48 at the top. Okay. And he recognized that he had a part-time job at some sort. Okay. Now, let me move on to November of 2020. Up until then, was Carter a happy child? Yes. Very well. And for the most part, was he fairly healthy? [00:19:51] Keanu Davis: For the most part, other than his medical conditions. [00:19:57] Speaker 1: And if there was a problem with Carter, you would take him over to the pediatric place, is that correct? Yes. And you're fairly regular over there? Yes, I'm a regular. Mr. Davis, I'm not going to -- and Mr. Dwayne may ask, but I'm not going to get into -- we've all heard what happened on the 17th of November. At that particular point in time, the day that Carter passed, where were you at this day? [00:20:45] Speaker ?: The day that he passed, I was at work. Where at? Right. In the middle school again. [00:20:51] Speaker 1: And that was for -- well, the high school was up there, is that right? Yes. The high school. And Mr. Dwayne was watching Carter, is that correct? Yes. Did -- did you -- did you -- when you found out that Carter was in distress, did you -- where did you go to? Where did you rush to? [00:21:23] Keanu Davis: I was on the phone with Mr. Benton, and he informed me that they were transporting him to the emergency room, so I met them at Puget County. [00:21:36] Speaker 1: Now, the information that you provided to the sergeant, the sergeant in this matter, and also to Lieutenant Meadows, and we heard the video is -- to your recollection, the way of thinking, is all that true and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief? Yes. As far as the timetable was concerned, did you lay that out for Sergeant Collins and also for Lieutenant Meadows? [00:22:27] Keanu Davis: I did. [00:22:28] Speaker ?: Yes. Yes. On the Monday night before Carter passed on Tuesday, did you contact his father, Mr. Ambrose, just whether or not he could watch the child? I did. And why was that? Um, because I felt more comfortable with him being home with either me or Mr. Ambrose. However, I did not take off work that day, the next day. So I asked Mr. Ambrose if he could possibly take off work to watch him. [00:22:42] Speaker 1: Yes. Yes. And he would not, is that correct? [00:22:45] Speaker ?: That is correct. [00:22:45] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:22:46] Keanu Davis: on Tuesday did you contact his father Mr. Ambrose as to whether or not he could watch the child? I did. And why was that? Because I felt more comfortable with him being home with either me or Mr. Ambrose. However I did not take off work that day the next day so I asked Mr. Ambrose if he could possibly take off work to watch him. And he would not is that correct? That is correct. Were you all going through a little bit of a span as far as the child support order is concerned at that time? I was not. I think that I don't think he agreed with my going to do it through the court system so I don't think we weren't really on good terms with that. [00:23:37] Speaker 1: But anyway, you went to work on that Tuesday. Correct. Mr. Ambrose, let me ask you this. As far as did you ever do anything to harm your child? No. I mean, this jury has to decide these charges against you. Was this child ever harmed or hurt or injured by you or in your presence? Yes. Now, Mr. Benton, from time to time, had been at your place and looked after a carter. Is that correct? Yes. Yes. You're sworn testimony. Has Mr. Benton ever done anything in your presence or to your knowledge were he would harm this child? [00:25:19] Keanu Davis: No. [00:25:20] Speaker ?: No. No. Did you ever take any action to where as though you felt like you were being negligent in taking care of the needs of college? [00:25:36] Speaker 1: No. No. Do you recall the child at any point in time falling or hurting himself or being in an accident of some sort there at the residence? No, I did not. The Saturday before, you were at your greenhandies house. Is that right? That's correct. Did you keep a close eye on the carter the whole time? Yes, because he's always up under me. [00:26:42] Speaker ?: Yes, because he's always up under me. [00:26:42] Speaker 1: Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. [00:26:44] Speaker ?: Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's always up under me. Yes, because he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. [00:27:08] Speaker 1: Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. Yes, I think he's up under me. [00:27:20] Speaker ?: Yes, I think he's up under me. [00:27:21] Speaker 1: And as you have explained once again what happened then to Sergeant Collins and Lieutenant Menace, do you stand by what you said? Absolutely. And also Martha Jackson from DFATS was there, is that correct? That's correct. During the period of time after Carter passed away, did you try to stay in touch with the sheriff's department or law enforcement of some sort as to what was going on with the investigation? Oh, yes. Yes, absolutely. I mean, what would you do? [00:28:14] Keanu Davis: I was consistently calling them for the three years. [00:28:19] Speaker 1: And who would you call to? [00:28:21] Keanu Davis: Do you know? They would never come to the phone. I would always refer to the assistant to leave my number and that they would get back to me and they would never get back to me, which is why I continued to call. [00:28:32] Speaker 1: Would that just be law enforcement or did you also try to contact the district attorney's office? [00:28:37] Keanu Davis: I would contact the state department, the sheriff's department, and the district attorney's office. [00:28:44] Speaker 1: And you've heard the testimony of Sergeant Collins and you met with him, did you not? And right after Carter passed away and then a few weeks later, did he ever, did you ever talk to him any more? [00:29:02] Keanu Davis: We did have one phone conversation and that's all. [00:29:13] Speaker ?: And when was the next time you heard from anybody from the sheriff's department? I did not hear from anyone from the sheriff's department and he was after my last meeting just as far as Sergeant Collins. Okay. At some point have you heard from Lieutenant Adams, is that right? A year later. [00:29:29] Speaker 1: And you drove down to meet with him, is that right? That is correct. And are you standing by the conversation or the information that you provided him at that meeting on June, excuse me, December 2021? Correct. Did you still continue to try to get in touch with the law enforcement about this? Yes, a few more days. Did they ever call for you to come down here and meet with them anymore? [00:30:00] Keanu Davis: No, they did not. No, they did not. [00:30:09] Speaker 1: The whole time you were teaching in Gwinnett County, is that right? That is correct. In addition to law enforcement, did you also talk in the coroner's office? I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. No. [00:30:35] Keanu Davis: I never spoke with the coroner's office. [00:30:36] Speaker ?: No. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. [00:30:48] Speaker 1: I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. [00:31:00] Speaker ?: I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. [00:31:02] Speaker 1: I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. [00:31:14] Speaker ?: I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. [00:31:22] Speaker 1: I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office. I never spoke with the coroner's office.