Prosecutor: Classmate helped hide mom's body

updated 12:48 p.m. ET July 3, 2007

CANTON, Ohio - Prosecutors said a former classmate of a man suspected of killing his pregnant girlfriend helped dispose of her body, then lied to investigators.

Myisha Ferrell has been charged with obstruction of justice in the deaths of Jessie Davis and her fetus but could face additional charges, prosecutor Frank Forchione told a judge Monday.

Investigators have previously said Ferrell lied to authorities investigating the deaths, but have not given details.

Davis’ family says she did not know Ferrell. Ferrell attended high school with Bobby Cutts Jr., a Canton police officer accused of killing 26-year-old Davis and the girl she planned to name Chloe.

Cutts, 30, is the father of Davis’ 2½-year-old son, and her family says he was the father of the baby that was due to be delivered Tuesday.

Both Cutts and Ferrell waived preliminary hearings on Monday. Cutts’ attorney said the move would help ensure a fair trial for his client by keeping evidence from the public for now.

Attorney Bradley Iams said he planned to do everything he can in “not allowing bits and pieces of the evidence out.”

'Important for the judge'
Davis was killed in her home near North Canton on June 14, authorities say. Her body was found nine days later and about 25 miles away after thousands of volunteers searched the area. Authorities have not said how they found it.

In a separate court appearance when Ferrell sought a reduction to her $500,000 bond, the prosecutor said Ferrell helped hide Davis’ body and lied to authorities several times. Judge Richard Kubilus would not lower the bond.

Ferrell’s attorney, John Alexander Jr., said he was upset that Forchione discussed the accusations against his client.

“I didn’t think it was necessarily appropriate to say that,” Alexander said.

Forchione defended the move, saying Ferrell helped dispose of the body.

“That comment was important for the judge to hear so we could keep a high cash bond of half a million dollars on an obstruction of justice case, which is generally a higher bond than necessary,” he said.

'Mommy was crying'
If Cutts’ preliminary hearing had gone forward, prosecutors would have been required to inform the court why Cutts was arrested in Davis’ murder. The case will be sent to a grand jury, from which prosecutors will seek an indictment.

Cutts’ family and his pastor, the Rev. C.A. Richmond, declined to comment afterward.

Davis’ mother, Patricia Porter, sat a few feet from Cutts in court and said afterward that she has no feelings toward him.

“I want him to have a fair trial probably more than anybody, because at some point I’m going to have to explain all this to my grandson,” Porter said.

Davis was reported missing when her mother went to her daughter’s home and found the surviving son, Blake, in a dirty diaper, the bedroom furniture toppled and a pool of bleach on the floor.

Blake provided authorities with the first clues, saying: “Mommy was crying. Mommy broke the table. Mommy’s in rug.”

Cutts, who also has a child with his estranged wife, was arrested the day the body was found. He has been held in lieu of $5 million bond.

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