Murder Victim Shot Five Times

Samuel J. Creekmore suffered five gunshot wounds, three of which could have caused his death, according to a document filed Monday in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Creekmore, 30, of Warsaw, was shot to death Thursday night. The alleged shooter is Jason Paul Davidson, 32, of Leesburg. Creekmore was the current husband of Davidson's ex-wife. Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Detective Sgt. Travis Marsh said Davidson has been despondent about his wife remarrying. "He couldn't accept the relationship between his (ex-)wife and Sam," Marsh said.

Davidson and his ex-wife, Alicia Davidson-Creekmore, were divorced since November 2000. She and Creekmore were reportedly married for about 1-1/2 years. Davidson kept in frequent contact with his ex-wife and the two maintained a friendship because of their two children, according to police and court documents.

A teary-eyed Davidson appeared in court Monday for an initial hearing before Judge Pro Tem James Walmer. As is customary during an initial hearing, a plea of not guilty was entered on Davidson's behalf. Warsaw attorney Michael Miner was present for the hearing and said he would represent Davidson.

Davidson was taken into custody early Friday morning and was preliminarily held on a charge of murder. That charge, as well as a firearms enhancement charge, became official Monday. The enhancement charge would add five years to the prison term range of 45 to 65 years possible if Davidson is convicted.

When Davidson showed up at the Creekmore residence on Bluebird Drive Thursday night, Marsh said, it was "a very surprising situation that transpired." Creekmore was on active duty with the U.S. Army, was stationed in Hawaii and just recently came to this area. Officials have not yet ascertained whether Creekmore was on an approved leave from the military. Marsh said his department is working closely with Army officials.

More than one telephone call took place between Davidson and Davidson-Creekmore beginning about 10 p.m. Thursday and Davidson reportedly tried to get his former wife to meet with him and talk. Davidson-Creekmore told police she asked why they couldn't just talk on the telephone, but Davidson reportedly insisted that they talk in person. He would not tell her what he wanted to talk about. That call came from Davidson's residence, Davidson-Creekmore told police.

At 10:35 p.m., Davidson reportedly called his ex-wife from an "unknown" number, according to her caller identification, and she told police that she expressed concern that he was threatening suicide. Davidson-Creekmore told police that this was an ongoing problem with Davidson.

At some point during that conversation, Davidson-Creekmore told Davidson that Creekmore was upset about their telephone conversation. Davidson then asked his ex-wife - who was upstairs in her residence - what Creekmore was doing. Davidson-Creekmore told her ex-husband that Creekmore had gone downstairs.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Davidson-Creekmore said Davidson told her to "hang on for a second." She then heard a door open, gunshots and Creekmore screaming.

Davidson-Creekmore and Christina Barden, who also lived in the house, then ran downstairs, where they reportedly saw Davidson holding a gun. Davidson then allegedly looked at his former wife and said, "I told you I couldn't live like this." He then fled the home while Barden called 911.

An autopsy performed on Creekmore at St. Joseph Medical Center, Fort Wayne, revealed that Creekmore suffered five gunshot wounds, three to the head and two to the mid-section of the torso. The attending physician noted that three of the five shots could have been the cause of death, according to court documents.

When police were able to contact Davidson late Thursday and early Friday, via his cellular telephone, the first call was terminated by Davidson when the detective identified himself as a police officer. A later call lasted about six minutes before police and Davidson were disconnected.

When Davidson surrendered to police at 4:26 a.m. Friday, Miner was with him. At that time, Miner also turned over a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. That gun is believed to be the murder weapon.

Davidson has not made a statement to police regarding his alleged actions.

Bond has not been set for Davidson, who will remain in police custody.

A pretrial hearing in this case is set for June 7, with an omnibus date of July 12 scheduled for the matter.