“I shot both of them.”
That’s what a Davenport homicide suspect says in a video on a cell phone, according to testimony today from a Davenport detective who was at the scene of a fire where two bodies were found.
On Feb. 7, Davenport Police charged Devon B. Braet, Adriana M. Blake (Prieto), and Melisa M. Weber in connection with a 5200 block of Division Street homicide investigation.
On Friday morning, Braet and Blake, both in shackles, appeared together with their attorneys in Scott County Court, where both sat quietly and occasionally conferred with their respective lawyers.
Devon B. Braet, 34, and Adriana M. Blake (Prieto), 27, each face charges of
- two counts of first-degree murder
- second-degree arson
- two counts of abuse of a corpse
- going armed with intent
- unlawful use of a weapon
- two counts of assault while participating in a felon causing serious injury
- possession of a controlled substance.
Melisa M. Weber, 49, faces felony charges of abuse of a corpse, two count of abuse of a corpse – mutilate/dismember to hide a crime, and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of aiding and abetting. She remains in Scott County Jail on a cash-only $100,000 bond.
A fire and two suspicious deaths
Shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, Davenport Police and Fire responded to the 5200 block of North Division Street for a report of a structure fire. Davenport Fire crews arrived on scene to find moderate smoke showing from an apartment and quickly extinguished the fire, according to arrest affidavits and Davenport Police.
During a search of the apartment, firefighters found two people deceased. The origin of the fire and cause of death were considered homicides. The two deceased people have been identified as 44-year-old Brian L. Goodwin and 44-year-old Amy M. Smith.
Police allege Braet and Blake (Prieto) placed a combustible material inside of the residence where the deceased victims were located.
The two knowingly acted together “to mutilate the bodies of the victims by the use of fire in an attempt to conceal the crime of murder,” police allege.
On Jan. 18, Braet and Blake (Prieto) were taken into custody on outstanding warrants. They were found to be in possession of 4.3 grams of heroin and 11 grams of methamphetamine, according to affidavits.
A detective testifies
Goodwin and Smith both had been shot, according to testimony from Davenport Police Detective Brandon Askew. He said the shooting took place between 4:30 and 7 a.m. Jan. 15.
Askew said two firearms were recovered.
The bodies were discovered on a bed in a bedroom, he said. Goodwin was shot in the left upper chest and right side of the head, and Smith was shot on the right side of the head, he said.
Askew said surveillance and traffic video is being used in the investigation. A black four-door sedan is visible at the residence six to eight minutes before the fire was visible, and at least two people get out of the car.
The investigation is ongoing, he said. “There have been several narcotics investigations that led us to that house,” Askew said, adding “We’ve interviewed dozens of people in this case.:”
Askew said Melissa Weber and Blake were friends, and had been incarcerated together at one time.
Weber, police say, “did knowingly support the actions of the co-defendants to mutilate the bodies of the victims by the use of fire in an attempt to conceal the crime of murder” and then assisted “in the co-defendants’ flight from justice following the double murder.”
After the fire, Askew said, Blake and Braet were at a Galesburg hotel. Investigators found cell phones and photos with the two posing with guns and body armor at the hotel.
In one video, Blake says “I shot both of them,” Askew testified.
Braet and Blake are set for arraignment March 14 in Scott County Court. Both are felons from prior cases, Askew said.
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