Lakewood Man Convicted in Connection with 2008 Murders

Dwayne A. Davis Jr. was convicted on three counts related to the 2008 murders of Rob Susko and David Miller following a two-week jury trial in U.S. District Court, Steven M Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today.

Davis, 24, of Lakewood, Ohio, will be sentenced later this year.

“The evidence presented in this case left no doubt that the defendant created an elaborate plot to lure Susko and Miller out of state with the purpose of killing them in cold blood,” Dettelbach said.

Davis was convicted on all three counts he faced: 1) travel and causing another to travel in interstate commerce with intent to commit a crime of violence to further unlawful activity, to-wit: assault with a firearm resulting in the deaths of David Miller and Rob Susko; 2) using a firearm in a crime of violence to murder Miller and Susko; and 3) tampering with evidence.

Evidence presented at the trial showed that Davis was upset with Susko over a cocaine deal in which Davis was provided bad cocaine. Witnesses testified Davis vowed to get revenge on Susko, and on Oct. 6, 2008, he lured Susko from Cuyahoga County to Detroit under the guise of buying marijuana. Miller was not involved in the purported drug deal but agreed to drive Susko, according to witnesses.

Once in Detroit, Davis shot both men in the head from close range, dumped their bodies, and drove the Miller’s Chevy HHR back to his home in Lakewood, witnesses testified.

Davis then parked the car near a park and used an accelerant to set fire to the car in an effort to destroy evidence of his crime, according to witnesses.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carol M. Skutnik and Gary D. Arbeznik following an investigation by the Cleveland office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Detroit, Cleveland, Lakewood and Westlake police departments.