And, we now have an UPDATE on this story: the sentencing date has been set after a Rome, Georgia man pled guilty last week (Thursday), to killing and mutilating a Cumming, Georgia man at an East Rome home.

Brandon Christopher Risner, age 23 – pled guilty to stabbing, disfiguring, and disemboweling his former friend in November of 2022.  Aaron William Davis was just 21 years old when he was murdered by the defendant, according to lawyers.

Floyd County Superior Court Chief Judge John “Jack” Niedrach has set the sentencing date for July 18th, at 1:30pm.

Davis was a recent graduate of Brigham Young University/Idaho, and the two men had a long history together.   They had gone to high school together, and attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cumming.

On November 11th, 2022 Davis came to Rome to see Risner on his way to visit other friends in Alabama.  When he didn’t arrive at his destination, the Davis family reached out to police.   Rome Police quickly discovered his abandoned vehicle in a ditch, behind the levee, at Heritage Park and the subsequent investigation led police to Risner’s home at 1002 Collinwood Road.  Police began searching the area near Risner’s home, and they soon found Davis’ mutilated body in the woods off of Tumlin Drive.   When contacted, Risner fled – but later turned himself in to police.

Several mental evaluations delayed the case somewhat.  However earlier this year – a state psychiatrist determined that Risner, was competent to stand trial.

Risner pleaded guilty to murder, 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, tampering with evidence and obstruction of an officer.

Risner could face as much as a “Life without Parole” sentence in the case.