WINONA – A third arrest has been made in the murder of a Winona businessman found shot to death in his home four months ago. Najalah Cage Davis, 28, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and accessory after the fact in the murder of her stepfather, William “Chug” McCuiston.
McCuiston owned the Spring Hill Tree Company.
McCuiston, 45, was found in his home on Dec. 1, 2009, with two gunshot wounds to the back. Police arrested Najalah’s husband, Curtis Davis, 24, on Dec. 3, and charged him with murder after he allegedly confessed to the crime.
Nearly two weeks later, Davis’ cousin, Betty Young, 39, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact of murder for allegedly disposing of the weapon, a 30-30 hunting rifle, used in the murder.
More arrests in the case may be pending.
McCuiston was found on the floor near the front door of his home on Minerva and Lodi Roads in Duck Hill by his wife, Lora, and their teenage daughter.
Najalah is Lora’s daughter from a prior relationship.
Montgomery County Sherriff Jerry “Bubba” Nix said Curtis Davis gained entry into McCuiston’s residence through an unlocked sliding glass door in the rear of the home. Nix said Davis waited for McCuiston to return home that night and then shot him in the back.
Nix said the residence showed no signs of forced entry or a struggle.
During their investigation, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department questioned several people about the murder and also administered polygraph tests. Nix said while Davis was being transported to Batesville for the lie detector test, he reportedly admitted that he shot McCuiston.
Davis was charged with murder, grand larceny for the theft of McCuiston’s hunting rifle and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Davis, a registered sex offender, was convicted of statutory rape in 2008 and he is currently on probation.
Davis later told authorities he gave McCuiston’s rifle to Young after the murder.
Authorities recovered the weapon after Young told them she threw it in a garbage dumpster near the J.J. Knox Gym in Winona, but she denied having any knowledge of the murder.
Young was asked to take a polygraph and she reportedly confessed that she had prior knowledge of the murder.
Authorities learned that Davis reportedly gave Young $180 in cash and a bag containing a wallet. Sheriff Nix would not confirm if the wallet belonged to McCuiston. Young said Davis allegedly told her to dispose of the weapon and the bag.
Young also has prior charges of bad check/false pretense and simple assault.
Young, Davis and his wife, Najalah, were all indicted by the Montgomery County Grand Jury and may appear in the next term of Montgomery County Circuit Court.
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