MANSFIELD — The boyfriend of Melinda Kay Davis, a Shelby woman found dead two weeks after she went missing, said he’ll work to keep her name alive by bringing awareness to domestic violence.
A small group stood in front of the Richland County Courthouse Saturday, holding signs with photos of Davis. Among them was Jamie Barnes, Davis’ boyfriend at the time of her death.
A small gold pendant hung around Barnes’ neck with Davis’ initials and fingerprint. On the other side read a small inscription — Never to be forgotten and forever loved.
“It’s a movement to keep her name and her face alive,” he said. “This won’t be the last one. We’re trying to get a hold of domestic violence groups so we can raise money and donate in her name.”
Barnes, a Massillon resident, said he felt the tremendous support of the Mansfield community throughout the day. Numerous motorists honked their horns at the group as they drove by. Barnes gave each of them a quick nod.
“This was an individual that solely touched a million lives at 33 years old, there’s so many people that feels the pain and the suffering of the situation,” he said.
Sam and Lesley Cooley, also of Massillon, were also present.
“She was a sweetheart, hard working, a mama of four and she just couldn’t wait to have her days off to enjoy (Barnes) and her kids,” Sam said. “She was just a good woman, independent.”
Lesley described Melinda as happy and outgoing.
“She was always laughing. That’s what I miss — just hearing her laugh,” she said.
Barnes, the Cooleys and other members of the group wore purple shirts with Davis’ name — an additional symbol of domestic violence awareness.
Davis, 33, was last seen on Feb. 25. driving her black Volkswagen Jetta near Shelby High School. Her body was found in the trunk of her car on March 14. The car was parked in Galloway and found by Columbus police.
Authorities believed Davis was headed to the home of her ex-boyfriend, John Henry Mack, at the time of her disappearance. Mack was arrested March 5 and charged with kidnapping as well as receiving stolen property. He remains in the Richland County Jail.
“People don’t really think about (domestic violence), it happens all the time. It’s sad,” Lesley said. “People need to pay attention, maybe they could help out in some way.
“A lot of people don’t come forward and say they’re being abused because they’re afraid. Maybe if there were more places for them to go or they felt like they were safer, maybe they would.”
Barnes said he hopes greater awareness of domestic violence might give those who are being abused the courage to leave.
“Being able to help people open up and be like, ‘You got to just walk away and not pick that phone call. Don’t pick that phone call up.’ Whenever you leave, get all your stuff and go,” he said.
