Houston-area father seeking justice after his son was discovered dead in a bayou

Houston-area father seeking justice after son's body was found in bayou

A Houston-area father is seeking justice after his son was found murdered in Buffalo Bayou, near North York Street and Hirsch Road.

HOUSTON - An area father wants justice after his son was murdered. Raphael "Ralph" Rogers Davis was discovered dead in Buffalo Bayou near North York Street at Hirsch Road.

What we know:

Sadly, Davis was found floating, shot to death in Buffalo Bayou back in November 2024. 

What do we know about his last moments alive? He's seen and caught on camera leaving the Harris County Jail.

"In that photo he was trying to charge his phone. Then he went to the ATM. He went walking up San Jacinto. So, from there, everything just went blank. Just like he vanished," says this dad in mourning and he adds.

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What they're saying:

"My life will forever be changed. This was my only son. Of course, my heart is broken," explains the 32-year-old's grieving father, James Davis.

His heart is broken for his baby boy who, ironically, made headlines coming into this world as the first little one born in the new year, as Davis showed us in a Katy Times newspaper article from 1992. Raphael Rogers Davis, at the end of his life, is making news again.

"It hurts. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children. He has a son, Malachi, who is 8-years-old," Davis explains, and he says, "Ralph was a kind, friendly, easy to get along with guy... He had a mental illness, but as long as he was taking his meds, you wouldn't know it. It had been difficult for him. He was grieving the loss of several loved ones. He was depressed and that set him back," says Davis. He added, "We're still just hoping someone will come forward and give us some kind of information that the detectives can go on to find out who did this. I know somebody knows something. His glasses were broken, and he had gray tape on them, so I know somebody saw him."

The backstory:

The 32-year-old had been in jail because he stole some food.    

"He went on the 11th and he got out overnight. So, in between him getting out on the 12th and the 19th we don't know what happened. (His body was found floating in the bayou with a gunshot on November 19?) Yes, on November 19. He had a brand-new pair of Jordans on and they were missing. He had some other items on him that are missing," Davis explains.

"We come from a God-fearing family, so I know at the end of all this, God is going to bring this thing to light," says Davis.

What's next:

If you can help shed light on what happened to Raphael "Ralph" Rogers Davis that ended with him shot to death in Buffalo Bayou back in November 2024, Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for the information, and his father will be forever grateful for it.