GREGG COUNTY, Texas — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 54 years in prison for aggravated kidnapping in connection with a 2016 double murder.
According to the Gregg County District Attorney's Office, a 12-person jury found Craig Davison, 53, of Hallsville, guilty before he chose to be sentenced by Judge Scott Novy in the 188th District Court.
In April 2016, Dustin Bennett, along with Davison and Patricia Baker, were arrested in connection with the murders of DeKeilen Nelson, 20, of Gilmer, and Kevin Stephenson, 28, of Henderson, whose bodies were found riddled with gunshot wounds near railroad tracks in Longview on March 23, 2016.
According to the arrest affidavit, Nelson and Stephenson were killed because Davison believed they had stolen either drugs or property from him. The two men were lured to Davison’s house, zip-tied and taken to an area near the railroad tracks.
Police say Bennett gave two different accounts regarding the mens' deaths.
In one interview, Bennett stated he and Davison intended to "just scare the men" and leave them at the train tracks. However, on the way to the location, Bennett said he tripped and accidentally fired the gun, hitting Stephenson in the back of the head. He then shot Stephenson again, as well as Nelson. Bennett stated Davison then grabbed the rifle and shot three or four more rounds at the two men.
In a separate interview, Bennett stated he left Nelson and Stephenson with Davison at the railroad tracks, then heard “approximately six gunshots” as he was walking back to Nelson’s car.
Bennett was sentenced to life in prison for the murders in November 2018. Baker pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping in December 2018.
Prosecutors say Davison will have to serve half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
