Person of Interest Sought in Killing of Elderly Durham Man

The Durham Sheriff's Office announced on Friday that it is searching for a person of interest in the killing of an 89-year-old man in the Bragtown area.

Family members of Charles Forest Davis found him dead on the floor of his 2913 Nellowood St. home on Sept. 26. Davis had been stabbed to death. Investigators said his home had been "ransacked," but stopped short of saying robbery was the motive.

The photograph of the person of interest released Friday is the only lead deputies have, Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill said. Investigators are interested in speaking to the male in the picture, but have not called him a suspect.

Earlier, detectives said they believed Davis' death might be connected to a series of break-ins in the Bragtown neighborhood. In 10 days surrounding the killing, police investigated at least eight break-ins in the area.

The day after the killing, a deputy spotted Davis' stolen car and gave chase. A person of interest jumped from the car and managed to escape. Investigators said in a search warrant that blood stains on and inside the Buick Century indicated a transfer of evidence from Davis' home to the car and to the occupants of the car.

On Sept. 28, investigators searched the house of a person of interest and seized a pair of jeans, but the search produced no arrests.

Davis served as a deacon at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, of which he had been a member for more than 50 years.

Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of this man is asked to contact Detective Kelly with the Durham County Sheriff's Office at  919-560-0896 or 919-730-2421.