OKLAHOMA CITY – An OKC man is expected to serve life in prison after being convicted of murder in the killing of his former roommate.
66-year-old Kenneth Davis was found guilty last week in the killing of 71-year-old Merle Southwick, who was found shot to death in his south OKC home in 2024.
The homicide was reported by Free Press at the time, before police had located or named Davis as a suspect:
The 2024 murder
Southwick’s body was discovered by his brother, Stanley Southwick, who had come to the house near SE 66th St. and S. Shields Blvd. to pick up Merle for church on Sunday, August 4th, 2024.
(A recent press release from the Office of Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna announcing the conviction incorrectly stated that Southwick’s body was discovered on August 2nd, 2024. Free Press has confirmed that the correct date is August 4th.)
When Stanley was unable to get a response at the door, he reportedly crawled through a window to find his brother dead inside with multiple gunshot wounds, including a shot to the back of the head that was described as “execution style.”
Police investigators named Kenneth Davis, Merle Southwick’s roommate at the SE Oklahoma City home, as the primary suspect, discovering that Southwick’s car title had been transferred to Davis’ name and his motorcycle sold by Davis before the discovery of the body.
Davis was found to have left the state before he could be located by OKCPD.
Days later, Davis was apprehended by U.S. Marshalls in Colorado. He was eventually transported back to Oklahoma City on November 14th, 2024 to be booked t the Oklahoma County Detention Center and later charged for first-degree murder.
Short trial after multiple delays
Davis’ trial was originally slated for October of 2025, but faced multiple administrative delays, including requests by State prosecutors for more time with which to contact witnesses, some confusion over the State’s assigned prosecuting attorney, and a March 2026 delay caused by the Medical Examiner being out of the country.
Each instance of delay was met with motions for review and mistrial by Davis’ attorneys, citing the right to a speedy trial. Each of those motions was denied.
The trial finally got underway properly on August 31st, with Judge Lydia Green presiding and Davis pleading “not guilty.”
Just four days later, on September 4th, the jury heard closing arguments before deliberating briefly and quickly returning a guilty verdict.
Life without parole expected
After returning a guilty verdict for Davis, the jury recommended a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
The formal sentencing will take place October 13th.
Brett Fieldcamp is the owner and Editor in Chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly two decades and served as Arts & Entertainment Editor before purchasing the company from founder Brett Dickerson in 2026.
He is also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
