Florida Man Sentenced to Life for Beating and Strangling Girlfriend to Death After She Gave Away His Belongings
PENSACOLA, FL – A Florida man who brutally beat and strangled his girlfriend to death after becoming enraged that she gave away some of his possessions will spend the rest of his life in prison.
38-year-old Davarius James was sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Judge John L. Miller to life in prison for the murder of 50-year-old Claudette Robinson, following a swift conviction by jurors last month.
The Brutal Killing
According to the First Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, the murder took place inside the couple’s shared home on North 7th Avenue in Pensacola on the morning of February 3, 2025.
Prosecutors said James became “angry” after Robinson gave away some of his personal items without permission, sparking a violent argument that ended with her death.
The court described the crime as a “brutal beating and strangling attack.” Evidence presented at trial showed that Robinson suffered fractured ribs, chest plate, and throat, along with hemorrhaging to her brain and spinal cord.
The medical examiner testified that her injuries were so severe they were comparable to those suffered in an automobile crash—except for the broken hyoid bone in her neck, which indicated manual strangulation.
The Investigation
Officers with the Pensacola Police Department responded to the home around 7 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from one of James’ friends.
The friend told dispatchers that James had called her earlier and asked her to “check on Claudette.” When she arrived, she found Robinson’s body—her right eye swollen shut and her skin cold to the touch.
When the friend said she planned to call for help, James allegedly told her,
“This isn’t going to look good.”
He then fled the scene before officers arrived.
Investigators later convinced the friend to call James on speakerphone while detectives listened. During the call, James admitted,
“I’ll have to tell them about last night … she been dead,”
before abruptly hanging up.
Confession and Contradictory Statements
After his arrest, James told detectives that he and Robinson had been dating for about two years and living together for one. He admitted they argued over her giving away his belongings, claiming she “fell and hit her head” during the dispute.
When questioned about the inconsistencies between her head and facial injuries, James became “agitated” and changed his story, saying she fell in a “twisting motion” and hit both her face and the back of her head.
Detectives said James described checking her breathing, pouring cold water on her to “revive” her, and sleeping next to her body, believing she was still alive.
Prosecutors later revealed James made Google searches in the hours after the killing, including:
- “If I performed CPR over five hours ago, why isn’t it working?”
- “How long can someone live off CPR?”
- “How to tell if someone has been choked by the neck.”
Prior Domestic Violence History
Court records showed James had previously been arrested for domestic violence against Robinson. In that earlier case, the victim reportedly told police she was “afraid that James would kill her.”
That fear tragically became reality less than a year later.
Trial and Sentencing
During the trial, jurors deliberated for less than 30 minutes before finding James guilty of second-degree murder. His defense attorney did not dispute the killing but urged jurors to consider manslaughter instead — a plea they rejected.
Judge John L. Miller handed down the life sentence on November 6, citing the “unimaginable brutality” of the attack and James’ history of violence.
Prosecutors said the outcome brings long-awaited justice for Claudette Robinson and her family. The case serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of domestic violence and unchecked rage.
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