Homicide, Arson Investigators Nab Two Suspects in Student's Death

February 15, 2007 --Following a lengthy criminal investigation, Houston Police Department homicide and Houston Fire Department arson investigators announced today (Feb. 15) charges against two suspects in the capital murder of a college student at 12900 Trail Hollow in December 2003.

The two suspects, Jason Ryan Marx (w/m, DOB 4-17-84) and Jayson Garcia (H/m, DOB 10-16-85), are in custody and charged with capital murder in the 351st State District Court. They are accused of intentionally setting the victim on fire, killing John “Jack” Davies, 22, of 12985 Trail Hollow. At the time of his murder, Davies was a college student and was one semester shy of graduating from the University of Southern California.

It was about 4:20 a.m. on December 19, 2003 when fire department personnel responded to a town home fire that destroyed eight units and several vehicles. After controlling the blaze, Jack Davies’ body was found burned inside his vehicle, a Chevrolet Corvette.

Led by HFD Arson Chief Roy Paul, the fire department formed a task force that spent three years sifting through information on other crimes and fires in the area and developing information on possible suspects. Crime Stoppers and the Davies family offered up to $30,000 in rewards in the case.

In May 2006, homicide investigators made arrests in a kidnapping case. Arson investigators alerted homicide personnel that one of those arrested suspects, Marx, might be involved in the fatal fire on Trail Hollow. Further investigation revealed one of the arson suspects was fatally shot during a robbery attempt in October 2004. As a result of this information, homicide investigators conducted further interviews and the two investigative teams compared notes. Together, with a Crime Stoppers tip, investigators were able to identify and file charges on suspects Marx and Garcia.

Marx has been in the Harris County Jail since the aggravated kidnapping charge in 2006. Garcia has been in the Robertson Prison Unit in Abilene, serving time for a robbery charge. When interviewed by homicide investigators, Garcia confessed to his role in the fire that killed Jack Davies. Investigators said the motive in Davies’ murder was due to the suspects thinking of him as a “preppie” who drove a fancy vehicle. A third suspect identified in Davies’ death, Matthew Herzog, 18, was shot and killed by a security guard as he (Herzog) attempted to rob a fast food restaurant in 2004.

JFC/MES/BH 2-15-07
Inc #180459203

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.