Portland man charged in brother’s death changes plea to guilty

PORTLAND – A 53-year-old Portland man charged in the Thanksgiving shooting death of his brother changed his plea to guilty on Friday, three days before he was scheduled to go on trial.

Edmond “Bill” Davis pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Cumberland County Superior Court in the death of his younger brother, Michael, at the home on Cornell Street he shared with his mother, Laura Davis.

Davis was originally charged with murder, which carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Lyn Schlaack, Davis’ ex-wife, said the change of plea would be a relief for his mother, who would have had to testify against her son if the case had gone to trial. The two have not communicated since his arrest on Nov. 24; he has been prohibited from contacting her because she was a prosecution witness.

Laura Davis has been in an assisted living home in Westbrook since her son’s arrest.

“It will be nice for him to be able to call her. Laura will appreciate that,” Schlaack said. “Not being able to send her a Mother’s Day card or a birthday card really bothered him.”

According to court papers, Bill Davis called an emergency operator at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and said he had just shot his brother.

At the time of the shooting, he lived with and provided care for his mother. His brother, who was 51, often stayed with them.

Bill Davis said he took a loaded gun out of his bedroom after he and his brother argued in the kitchen, and that he shot his brother once in the stomach when he charged at him, according to court records.

Schlaack said Laura Davis, the only witness to the shooting, may not remember what she saw because the event was so traumatic.