Hell in Harlem: Grandma is Dead, Stuffed in the Closet, While Fugitive Grandson Larry Davis (No, Not that Larry Davis!) is Busy Doing the Nasty

an Alleged Working Girl
By Nicholas Stix

 
Cora Davis' corpse being removed from her apartment building.
 

When relatives hadn't heard from 76-year-old grandmother Cora Davis, they let themselves into her apartment in the East Harlem projects on East 124th Street, only to find her 21-year-old grandson, fugitive Larry Davis, furiously giving the business to a 20-year-old woman who had previously been arrested for prostitution.

One relative yelled at Davis, "Where's Mama? Where's Mama?" Davis didn't come up with any answers, and considering that Mama was missing, and had an order of protection out against her grandson, who was already wanted for skipping out on a court date for trespassing (it's not clear if that was Mama-related), the relatives threatened to call the law. At that point, Davis left the apartment, while his escort remained. Neighbor Angel Rodriguez, 56, who saw him leave, said he "didn't seem upset."

When police arrived, they found Cora Davis stuffed in the closet, covered with clothes.

The city medical examiner was trying last night to determine the cause of death. Sources said investigators found signs of hemorrhaging around Davis' eyes that suggest she may have been strangled….

Law enforcement sources said there were several domestic incident reports filed at the home, but none involved violence. The elderly woman also had an order of protection against her grandson.

Neighbors said they'd witnessed Davis' drug-addled grandson getting hauled out in cuffs before.

"It's just a horrible thing because she was a lovely lady," said close friend Dorothea Sadler, 81. "She didn't bother anybody."

Sadler said Davis had lived in the building for more than 40 years.

"She was a beautiful woman," Rodriguez said. "I knew her most of my life."

Larry Davis, who is still being sought by police, has prior arrests that include drug possession and assault.

["Horror in Harlem: Relatives find dead grandmother stuffed in closet as grandson has sex in bed," by Rocco Parascandola, Kerry Wills, Joe Kemp, Alison Gendar and Kerry Burke, Daily News, March 31, 2011.]

This Larry Davis is not to be confused with the eponymous black serial killer-robber-kidnapper-mass attempted murderer-folk hero who, during the late 1980s, was acquitted by a series of racist black and Hispanic juries of murdering five drug dealers, attempting to murder nine policemen and of wounding six cops, but was convicted of illegal possession of a handgun (!). However, Davis learned that the sixth time's the charm, as he was finally convicted in 1991 of murdering a sixth drug dealer. In 2008, he was murdered in prison.

Some comments by Daily News readers follow. While they are all in chronological order, and some are consecutive, I did not post all of the comments from that period. At this point, the Daily News staff has permitted 129 comments to be posted.

McGarrett
5:13 AM
Mar 31, 2011
And Life goes on in "Da Hood"!

danr
5:25 AM
Mar 31, 2011
I said it before and I'll say it again, until I'm proven wrong. Animals.

Nomorracism
5:31 AM
Mar 31, 2011
@danr...come on man. I am a white guy and you saying stuff like you said makes it seem like black people are the only ones killing one another. What did you write about the white woman who along with her parents just crucified that mentally challenged person and hung them in a closet and put peppers in their eyes? Were they "animals" as well? What about the kindergarten teacher who sexually assaulted a little girl from her neighborhood then killed her and stuffed her in a suitcase?She was white. Was she an "animal" also? My point is that there are terribly effed up people from all backgrounds and races and religions. Being a racist is nothing to be proud of so maybe you can just see the world a little different. I realize that stereotypes exist, but you don't have to be part of the hate. How about an ***** is an ***** no matter what color they are.

[NS: Many posters heaped praise on "Nomorracism."]

jaider
6:14 AM
Mar 31, 2011
@Nomorracism.....you tell that ****, danr, who is so brave with his words at a keyboard. People like him will NEVER change. They are still stuck in 1835!!!

Nomorracism
6:45 AM
Mar 31, 2011
Thanks Jaider. Maybe for once we can keep the racist stuff to a minimum. If you read this and you go on and spew hate you are just part of the problem and not part of the solution. Don't get me wrong there is not a lot you can do to change things in this world but it starts with yourself. If you go calling black people this and that, you are just being an a.hole yourself and you are just part of what is wrong. You might not be as bad as someone who killed his grandmother, but you are not making us better as a nation when you just hate on people for being one color or another. I don't get it. I have a tan dog and a black dog. They are both dogs. Just different fur but dogs all the same. We are all people. EF racists! They are just not that bright and cannot think of a more intelligent way to express their anger.

NYBORN&RAISED
7:00 AM
Mar 31, 2011
@ danr - racist people like you are only racist because you think it makes you feel better about yourself. but deep down inside, you know you're still a loser.

skeeball
7:04 AM
Mar 31, 2011
Yes, but were they using condoms?

Juan Hunoz
7:13 AM
Mar 31, 2011
I guess he couldn't curb his enthusiasm.

jaylins dad
7:27 AM
Mar 31, 2011
Im sure any of us that killed our grandmother would atleast have the decency to have sex in a different room. God what's is this world is coming too?

wizeman
7:29 AM
Mar 31, 2011
I just wish I could've been one of the relatives to walk in on him. It will be two family funerals.

Mr.Nautral22
8:52:09 PM
Mar 31, 2011
Another Larry Davis...History DOES repeat itself....more crazy sheeet.

Poetic Justice
8:58:18 PM
Mar 31, 2011
Common Sense if you were not race baiting you would have just posted that the grandson shared the same name as another man who shot 6 cops and beat the charges along with a murder rap in the Bronx. Instead you asked a question for people, especially who are racists, to search their memories. Why give them homework if you're not acting like a teacher? Just post that the man got a similar name like another notorious or legendary character then you won't come across as race baiting. I studied enough psychology to appreciate the human mind like yours and what you think you can pull off in broad daylight while trying to stay under the radar.

Poetic Justice
8:33 AM
Mar 31, 2011
re Common Sense 7:13 AM Mar 31, 2011 Race has no bearing on the fact that this "Larry Davis" is a sociopathic, savage barbarian. Anyone else remember the more infamous Larry Davis who shot 6 cops? ****************************C S why even bring up the legendary Larry Davis? This will only serve as a segue to incite racists on here. The cops he shot at were crooked and on the take it later turned out. *************On March 3, 1988, after presenting a defense based almost entirely on the assertion that he had been framed, Mr. Davis was acquitted of all charges in the murders of the four suspected drug dealers 16 months earlier. Then, on Nov. 20, a Bronx jury acquitted him of attempted murder of nine police officers. The jury also acquitted Mr. Davis of six counts of aggravated assault in the wounding of six of the officers, one of whom was hit in the mouth and neck by a bullet and forced to retire. But the jury convicted him of six counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Mr. Davis

Poetic Justice
8:35 AM
Mar 31, 2011
cont:was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison on the weapons charges. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/the-death-of-larry-davis/ ***********************If he had a legal weapon most likely he would not have gone to prison.

[NS: "The cops he shot at were crooked and on the take it later turned out" is a complete fabrication, originally concocted by Davis' late defense attorney, William Kunstler. Kunstler knew that the racist, Bronx jury hated the police and loved criminals, and was just looking for a pretext to let Davis off. Kunstler gave it to them, in spades. So many policemen had been sent to arrest Davis, because he was a notorious serial killer of drug dealers, and already considered the most dangerous man in New York, before the shootout! The firefight that Davis singlehandedly engaged the cops in, and the dramatic escape he made that night, confirmed that judgment.]

NEHNDZ
8:48 AM
Mar 31, 2011
Octavarim - he is black but, regarless of his race or his cultural background, he is a deranged individual and I pray he gets caught and punished. Larry Davis - the name is cursed!

Nomorracism
8:49 AM
Mar 31, 2011
@Annocondaman...Thanks man. Much respect. I love your posts!

Common Sense
9:05 AM
Mar 31, 2011
Poetic Justice> Did I mention the more infamous Larry Davis' race? I was just pointing out a coincidence. I suffer from the affliction of race-blindness. I look at people and make whatever assessment of them I do based on their actions, not the color of their skin, or what their religion may be. No, I didn't go into the long history of Larry Davis' trial, his elevation to folk hero status, or the brilliant Defense by William Kunstler and Lynne Stewart in which he was acquitted of all but the weapons charges and afterward, the jury forewoman said Davis was a "young and innocent kid who got recruited by a few corrupt policemen... they came in to wipe him out... they wanted him dead so he couldn't squeal on them... they would have killed him."... I just thought the name coincidence was interesting.

Lil pundit
9:27:29 PM
Mar 31, 2011
Most of the comments here are a sad examaple of the society that produces events like the tragic one that happened here. I knew this woman. She was quiet, calm and gentle. I remember her waiting everyday for her daughter to get off the school bus when I was a child. Mrs. Cora didn't deserve to die like that. My heart goes out to the entire family. You are in my prayers.

OmarLittle
9:49:00 PM
Mar 31, 2011
That Larry Davis was my hero Marc.

5fla9
1:15:28 AM
Apr 1, 2011
Just another day in Harlem. Usual suspects.

Skynard
10:31:28 AM
Apr 1, 2011
I'm sure that any of the population that were constantly being shipped off to our Grandma's to be raised and neglected by our mothers to persue some derelict she wanted, is somewhat normal by some people's standards.What happened to dignity and responsibility of Motherhood, when personal wants for frivolous issues prevail. My Grandma was my rock of stability and guidence, one she maintained throughout her life, she may not have wanted the responsibility but accepted it. All grandmothers deserve respect, just for the efforts they put into play. This fool obviously had none as he had a restraining order against him, and he did not honor it or his grandma.I'm sure she did not put herself into a closet and cover herself with clothing to avoid hearing her grandson having "SEX". R.I.P. grandma and be in GOD'S hands, surely you deserve it.

liberalterrorist
12:42:19 PM
Apr 1, 2011
I grew up in Wagner [projects], breaks my heart to see how things have changed and how violent these kids are nowadays. Wagner used to be family, everyone knew each other. Now its unrecognizable to me..damned shame.