Suspects in Canton death waive speedy-trial rights

The judge did not set a new trial date for Bobby Cutts Jr.

CANTON (AP) — A police officer accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend waived his right to a speedy trial Tuesday.

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.

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 Tuesday 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 Cutts’, also agreed to waive her right to a speedy trial. Ferrell, 29, faces charges of obstructing justice and complicity to abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors say she helped dispose of Davis’ body.

Brown ordered that jury summonses be sent Oct. 8 for Ferrell’s trial to begin in November.

Davis’ disappearance in June drew national attention as thousands gathered to search for her in the area surrounding her Northeast Ohio home. Authorities say Davis was killed June 14 in her home near North Canton, about 45 miles south of Cleveland. They have not said how she was killed.

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