Chilling details revealed during sentencing for man who killed his best friend

#eastidahonews #sentencing #truecrime

ROME, Georgia — Aaron Davis had just graduated from BYU-Idaho and was ready to “launch into life” when his best friend brutally killed him, hid his body and lied about his whereabouts.

Brandon Risner, 23, was sentenced Thursday to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole following an emotional hearing that lasted over two hours in a Georgia courtroom. Risner pleaded guilty to 12 charges last month including malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, concealing the death of another, abandonment of a dead body and theft by taking, as well as misdemeanor removal of body parts from the scene of a death.

Horrific details about the murder were revealed during the hearing and Davis’ parents and girlfriend read heartbreaking statements. Risner’s parents also spoke, sobbing at times as they asked Judge John Niedrach to show mercy for their son.

The murder

Davis, 21, and Risner had known each other since 8th grade and were extremely close. Following his graduation from BYU-Idaho in July 2022, Davis finished a law internship in North Carolina and decided he wanted to become a teacher.

He took the GACE, the Georgia test for graduate school admission, the morning of Nov. 11, 2022, and then began driving to visit his girlfriend in Alabama when he stopped to see Risner in Rome, Georgia.

The two went to a bar and drank high blood alcohol content beers ordered by Risner, which was unusual because Davis did not drink, according to Floyd County Assistant District Attorney Leah Mayo. They went back to the home of Risner’s parents, who were out of town, and Davis went to sleep in an upstairs bedroom.

A short time later, Risner entered the bedroom and stabbed Davis 40 times causing blood to spatter on the ceiling and soak through the carpet, Mayo said.

“Aaron was killed on the bed…and then drug into the bathroom. His blood was found on the door of the bathroom shower as well as other places,” Mayo said. “Aaron didn’t have any defensive wounds. Aaron didn’t see this coming and this was not a case of mutual combat or something like that.”

Mayo said Risner attempted to dismember Davis around his abdomen and on one of his arms. A portion of his small intestine was removed and Davis was alive as sustained the majority of his wounds, according to Mayo.

Investigators later discovered Risner conducted more than 20 internet searches on his phone for sheets, blankets, stain remover and hydrochloric acid. He also looked up, “does Walmart have duct tape,” “how to clean blood out of a carpet” and “how to drain a washing machine.”

In between the searches, Mayo said Risner watched horror movies and drove to Walmart, where he purchased duct tape, sheets, cleaning supplies and other items. He used the tape and sheets to wrap Davis’ body. Risner also visited Urgent Care to get treated for cuts on his fingers.

After killing Davis, Risner put his friend’s body in a suitcase and into the trunk of Davis’ car. The following night, Mayo said Risner buried Davis in a shallow unmarked grave nearby and ditched the vehicle behind a levee in a park.

Davis’ parents and girlfriend became concerned and contacted police when they had not heard from him in some time. Officers eventually found the car and Davis’ body and were led to Risner, who initially fled but ultimately turned himself in.

Disturbing details

Mayo revealed a disturbing amount of content found on Risner’s phone, such as an online search of “10 tips for dealing with guilt;” a “post-murder to do list” including vacuum, laundry, post music on YouTube, apply for BYU-Hawaii, shower; and a song Risner had written after the Davis’ death that contained violent lyrics.

“He screamed ’til he choked on his own tongue and blood. His scream became a gargle as he swallowed his tongue,” the lyrics said.

Lyrics to another song, written before Davis’ death, included these lyrics: “It doesn’t matter what you do. Go kill someone, go love someone, you can’t plan the future, God decided it for you.”

Read the rest of the story at EastIdahoNews.com.