David couple sentenced to life imprisonment

Nathaniel and Lashawna David were sentenced Wednesday, June 26, for the murder of Connie Mercer-Webb. Both pleaded guilty to the following charges: Nathaniel – malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and concealing the death of another. Lashawna – malice murder, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence.

Superior Court Chief Justice Bobby Reeves sentenced the couple as follows: Nathaniel was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for malice murder, plus 10 years consecutive to serve for the firearm charge, plus five years consecutive probation for the tampering charge. Lashawna David was sentenced to life in prison with parole for the premeditated murder charge, plus 10 years consecutive for concealing a death, plus 10 years consecutive for tampering with evidence. District Attorney Tripp Fitzner explained that while both were sentenced to life in prison with parole, the minimum they will have to serve will be 30 years before they can even be considered for parole.

“I appreciate the hard work of the Swainsboro Police Department. They responded very quickly and that was very helpful to us in quickly apprehending the defendants in this case and ultimately prosecuting this case. The Sheriff’s Department responded as well. It was an all-hands-on-deck situation. I appreciate the work the GBI did at the crime scene,” said Prosecutor Fitzner. “I know there is nothing the criminal justice system can do to restore the family to wholeness, but we hope this will give them some closure and I would ask everyone to keep this family in their prayers.”

TO SUMMARIZE

On Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers with the Swainsboro Police Department responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle located on Modoc Road in Swainsboro. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle that had left the side of the roadway near the wooded edge of Modoc Road. While investigating the abandoned vehicle, officers learned that the vehicle belonged to Connie Mercer-Webb, 53, of a Twin City address.

While there, officers received information that Webb's family had not seen or heard from the victim all day. A family member informed officers that Webb never failed to answer phone calls or text messages. Officers began canvassing the neighborhood, looking for information regarding the abandoned vehicle and/or its owner. Additional officers arrived on scene to assist in canvassing the neighborhood in hopes of locating the missing person.

As the investigation into Webb's whereabouts continued, officers were directed to a nearby residence located at 309 Modoc Road – a rental property owned by Webb and occupied by tenant Nathaniel David and his wife, LaShawna David. This address was approximately 300 yards from the reported abandoned vehicle.

Officers contacted Nathaniel at the residence and were advised that Webb (the landlord) had in fact come to the residence earlier that morning to collect rent, but had not entered the home and had left shortly after a brief conversation while driving his own vehicle.

As officers were driving away from the rental property, they heard a person yelling, indicating that they had located Webb's body that was being removed from the residence at 309 Modoc Rd. The person was later identified as Webb's son, and he was pleading with officers to quickly return down the street to his location, which was at 309 Modoc Rd.

Officers then observed Nathaniel fleeing the residence and gave chase, during which time both Nathaniel and LaShawna were apprehended. Webb's body was found in the rear of the residence at 309 Modoc Rd. It became apparent to officers on scene that the suspects, now in custody, were attempting to dispose of the body when they were observed by the victim's son.