Dallas County DA to seek death penalty for man charged in slaying of teen he was accused of raping

Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said this afternoon that he will seek a death sentence for a man charged with capital murder in the slaying of a 16-year-old girl he was accused of raping, according to a news release. Police say that in early September, Franklin Davis, who was indicted today, posed as another person on Facebook to make contact with Shania Gray, a sophomore at Hebron High in Carrollton. Gray was expected to testify against Davis, 30, at an upcoming trial. Davis was under indictment for four counts of sexual assault on Sept. 6 when he “took” Gray from her school to Sam Houston Trail Park in Irving, according to a news release from the DA’s office. Gray’s body was found two days later at the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Gray was shot and strangled. Testimony is scheduled to begin April 15 before State District Judge Mike Snipes. Although trial dates often change. Prosecutors Russell Wilson, Brandon Birmingham and Jennifer Bennett are trying the case. Davis is represented by Karo Johnson, Phillip Hayes and Brady Wyatt, court records show