MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis community remains in shock following a horrifying double homicide that claimed the lives of a mother and her teenage grandson. Authorities have charged Arsenio Davis, 34, in connection with the brutal killings that unfolded earlier this week inside a home on the 1600 block of Helsley Road.
Investigators confirmed that one of the victims was Davis’s mother, 56-year-old Betty Pratt, who was found shot to death inside the residence on October 22. Hours later, officers made a second tragic discovery — the body of Davis’s teenage nephew was found on the kitchen floor, partially dismembered, in what officials described as one of the most disturbing crime scenes in recent memory.
Davis, who appeared before a judge Friday morning, is facing first-degree murder and second-degree murder charges, along with several related offenses. Prosecutors allege that Davis first shot his mother, fled the scene before police arrived, and later returned to commit the second killing.
In court, it was revealed that at the time of the murders, Davis had been out on a $50,000 bond stemming from a 2023 case involving aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. He was indicted earlier this year, and prosecutors have since moved to revoke that bond following his latest arrest.
Judge officials denied bond for the first-degree murder charge but set a $400,000 bond for the second-degree murder count. Davis’s attorney, Lauren Pasley, told the court that her client waived his right to a bond hearing for now, emphasizing that their focus was ensuring he “understands what’s going on” before determining next steps.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the killings, but the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that investigators are reviewing evidence and witness statements to piece together the chain of events leading up to the crime.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched to help the family of the teenage victim cover funeral expenses, as the community mourns the devastating loss.
Davis is scheduled to return to court on November 25, where prosecutors are expected to present additional details in the ongoing investigation.
As neighbors and loved ones grapple with the senseless nature of the tragedy, the killings on Helsley Road stand as a grim reminder of how swiftly violence can shatter families — even those bound by blood.