WAKULLA CI MURDER/SUICIDE: ARCHIE DAVIS: Prayer of the Dying

Archie Davis Billboard 09-03
Contact Phone Numbers - Area Code 805-
Billboards can be seen in the area of Liberty and Wakulla prisons.

THE MURDER OF ARCHIE DAVIS

After at least 10 long and painful days of torture by Wakulla guards, on the fateful morning of Archie Davis' death, the smug words of 'Officer' Agerton came over the intercom and 76 confined men heard his booming voice intone, "Archie Davis, you better say your prayers because today's the day you die!"

Even though he was excited about going home soon and had no known cause for depression, Archie's sudden death was reported as a suicide by Wakulla guards.

Supposedly, when the story finally quit changing, Archie stood on his knees with his back to the (sink)(bunk), tied a sheet around his neck, leaned forward and strangled himself.

Witness reports disagree with the guards' story:

For at least 10 days that we know of, Archie had been tormented by officers. It may have been much longer since all outside contact had been shut off.

He was ordered to keep a pillow case over his head at all times [presumably so he could not identify his torturers], with threats of more beatings if he removed it.

The water had been cut off to his cell, he was not given toilet paper, he was not being fed, he was not being taken to the rec yard nor given showers. If you look at the pictures closely, you'll see how dirty Archie was when he died by his grubby fingernails and filthy hands. According to accounts, Archie was kept naked in his cell, so, he most certainly was not wearing the new spotless white t-shirt and underwear he has on in the pictures taken during the autopsy.

On the final fateful day, too many heard Agerton's smug announcement over the speaker, "YOU BETTER SAY YOUR PRAYERS, ARCHIE DAVIS, BECAUSE TODAY YOU DIE!" Too many people saw the "goon squad" going into Archie's cell, too many horrified prisoners heard the horrendous scuffle and Archie's screamed prayer; and too many saw the officers leave Archie for dead.

If you study the photos closely, you may spot the place on the back of his head which would match a blow from the large flashlite Officer Agerton is reported to have carried into the cell. You may notice marks around the throat that look more like wide belt marks than those a folded sheet might leave. Perhaps you can even see see the puncture mark from the tine of a belt buckel in his neck or what appear to be bruises on the arms, legs and body.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVE FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS OF UNBELIEVABLE TORTURE and finally MURDER? Archie had, in a letter to his mother, tried to report Wakulla guards who were dealing drugs inside the prison. Her visits and phone calls had been cut off. She hadn't seen her son in months except for the brief wave and smile in the courtroom when the judge appeared to want to send Archie home. The judge was to give her official decision after Easter, but by then it was too late.

Captain Hemphill Sergeant Agerton Guard Wilson