April 1, 2020

Oregon Court of Appeals affirms Michael Davis’ aggravated murder convictions

Today, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s prior ruling and upheld the aggravated murder convictions in State v. Michael Davis.

Davis is serving two true life sentences for the murders of 30-year-old Belinda Flanagan and 33-year-old Gerald Phillips.

This investigation started on November 3, 1991 at approximately 11:30 a.m. when Portland Police responded to a motel in the 11300 block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard after a motel employee discovered two bodies.

Inside the room, investigators found four .45 caliber shell casings, all of which had been fired from the same pistol.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Flanagan and Phillips died of gunshot wounds.

During the initial investigation law enforcement identified Davis, the former boyfriend of Ms. Flanagan, as the suspect in the case, but never had enough evidence to arrest him.

Ms. Flanagan and Mr. Phillips were dating at the time of their murders.

The investigation stalled.

In 2002, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Davis for the two murders. The indictment came after now District Attorney Rod Underhill – who was then assigned to the office’s Cold Case Unit as a senior deputy district attorney – worked with Portland Police Bureau Detectives Barry Renna and Stu Winn to re-review the case file and speak with additional witnesses.

In December of 2005, a jury found Davis guilty of 12 counts of aggravated murder. The case was prosecuted by now DA Underhill and now First Assistant Jeff Howes.

A copy of the Oregon Court of Appeals decision can be obtained by clicking here.

Davis could petition to have his case reviewed by the Oregon Supreme Court.

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Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director 
Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us