Lyon County jury rules man guilty in 2016 murder of Dayton woman
A 56-year-old man was found guilty of first degree murder with use of a deadly weapon and destruction of evidence in the April 2016 murder of a Dayton woman.
James Leo Hamrick, 56, of Dayton was found guilty following a week long jury trial in Yerington, Lyon County District Attorney Stephen B. Rye announced Thursday. The case involves the April 28, 2016 murder of Toni Marie Davis, 60, at their home in Dayton.
Hamrick was at home alone with Davis for a short time before he killed her. Lewis Hamrick, brother of the defendant and husband of the victim, returned to the house in Dayton a short time later and discovered that both Hamrick and Toni Marie Davis were gone, said Rye.
Ms. Davis never returned and she was reported missing to local law enforcement. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Division, and the Nevada Division of Investigations investigated the case. During the course of the investigation they were led to the naked body of Toni Marie Davis, said Rye.
It took nearly three weeks of searching and investigation before law enforcement found Ms. Davis’ body. Hamrick was arrested and charged with the murder and destruction of evidence for hiding the body. He also hid the murder weapon, which was a small caliber handgun.
“We hope that this verdict will help bring some closure to the spouse, family and friends of the victim in this case," District Attorney Rye said. "Law enforcement worked diligently to locate the victim and bring this case to prosecution so that Hamrick could be held responsible for this crime.”
The Third Judicial District Court will sentence Hamrick on a date to be determined.
Jeremy Reichenberg and Brian Haslem prosecuted this case for the Lyon County District Attorney.