Yamisha Thomas death: Sylvester Davis, 29, charged with murder

The former boyfriend of Yamisha Thomas has been charged with murder by Phenix City police.

Police issued the warrant for the arrest of Sylvester Davis, 29, on Friday, Lt. Jason Whitten said. Davis is currently being held in the Muscogee County Jail on a probation violation.

Thomas, 30, went missing April 22 after she left a Brandywine Drive home for Opelika, Ala., where she dropped off her child with family, authorities said.

Human remains were found May 23 in the area of 11th Avenue South in Phenix City. The body was identified May 27 as Thomas.

Davis was arrested May 2 on a probation violation. His attorney, Stacey Jackson, has said the alleged violation deals with an address and living arrangements.

Davis has a criminal history involving Thomas. He was a recent ex-boyfriend of Thomas when he took her phone on two different occasions in October 2009. He also struck her that month and trespassed onto her property the following month, according to records and Crawford Seals, the assistant district attorney on the case at the time.

Davis pleaded guilty to battery, theft by taking, criminal trespass and traffic and drug offenses on Feb. 12, 2010. He was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by 14 years’ probation, records state.

Months later, Thomas appeared at a sentence modification hearing on Davis’ behalf. At that hearing, Davis’ probation was reduced to five years, Seals said.

This story was originally published June 6, 2011 at 1:29 PM.