Victorville Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Elderly Woman

Staff Writer

Monday, June 20th, 2016

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LONG BEACH – A 26-year-old Victorville man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday. Daniia Lasean Davis (also known as Dontae Davis) was sentenced for the 2009 murder of 76-year-old Leam Sovanasy.

Davis along with his accomplice 27-year-old Freddie James Battle of Long Beach were found guilty in

Freddie James Battle LBPD released photo — Freddie James Battle
LBPD released photo

May for one count of first-degree murder, burglary, and robbery.

Sovanasy was found dead in her home located in the 1400 block of Peterson Avenue on the morning of Saturday, January 31, 2009. Sovanasy was found to have multiple stab wounds to her upper torso.

Signs at the scene indicated a burglary took place with the suspects entering through a window. Detectives also found that a purse that contained cash was taken during the burglary.

Over four years later, investigators were able to determine that an early 90’s white Chevy Caprice was seen in the area at the time of the murder. Flers in both English and in the Cambodian native language of Khmer were distributed seeking the public’s help. Tips helped detectives to create and release a sketch of a man that was seen in a similar vehicle.

A man who identified himself as Dontae Davis called the lead detective telling him that he was the person on the sketch. Davis, who had an extensive criminal history including theft, burglary and robbery arrests told the detective that he would come to the station with his attorney. He never arrived with his attorney but records including his associates brought detectives to seek Freddie Battle as a person of interest.

Detectives were able to determine that both Davis and Battle were regulars at pawn shops and were able to pull histories for both before and after the murder. After their murder, their regular pawn activities seized for around 8 months. DNA evidence was collected from the two and determined to match samples collected at the scene of the murder.

Both suspects were arrested in September 2013, Battle in Long Beach and Davis was arrested near his Victorville residence.

Battle is due back in court for sentencing on July 7th.