Sparks, NV: Sparks police: Man accused of killing mother of 3 claims self-defense

5:36 PM, Sep. 12, 2011
Sparks police said a man told them he “accidentally” stabbed and struck his girlfriend with a tire iron in self-defense and then dumped her body down a Carson City ravine after he had dug her up from a makeshift grave in his backyard.

Brian Hobbs, 29, was arrested Sunday in the death of his girlfriend, Cherissa Davidson, 29 and booked into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of murder with a deadly weapon. He is being held without bail.

Sparks police Sgt. John Franz said they found Davidson’s infant Saturday in good condition at the couple’s home on Pullman Court. He said a citizen on found Davidson’s stabbed and battered body in an out-of the-way ravine on the outskirts of Carson City — Brunswick Canyon — where locals use to access fishing areas.

When authorities went to her home later to search for clues, Franz said Hobbs answered the door and directed them to her baby. Franz said Davidson also has a 6-year-old child whose father has custody. Police believe Davidson was killed earlier last week. Her body was found Friday.

After interviewing Hobbs twice, Franz said detectives learned that following a struggle, Hobbs said he “accidentally” struck Davidson in the head with a tire iron and “accidentally” stabbed her because his arm “twitched.”

Franz said he also claimed that Davidson fell on the knife and then began stabbing herself. Hobbs said he was merely defending himself on Sept. 6 when Davidson abruptly attacked him with the tire iron and then a large knife from their kitchen, Franz said.

Investigators said that after Hobbs allegedly buried his girlfriend of six months in their backyard, he dug her up because he didn’t think police would believe his story. Hobbs then had a friend help him move her body into her minivan, Franz said.

Next, Franz said Hobbs drove to Carson City and dumped her body down a ravine in a location he had been before as he used to live in the area. Franz said the friend that helped him move the body has mental health issues and is not being charged with a crime. The man did help police with their investigation, Franz said.