A 21-year-old man suspected in a series of major crimes, including the violent stabbing of his step-grandfather, had his bail set at $1 million during an appearance in Clark County Superior Court.
Miccah J. McDowell, 21, appeared in court Monday morning wearing a suicide-prevention smock.
McDowell faces potential charges of attempted murder, robbery and assault, all in the first degree.
The attempted murder charge stems from allegations that two men stabbed Robert “Bob” Davis at his home at 6704 N.W. 192nd St. McDowell was with the two men and was involved in robbing the home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The affidavit identifies McDowell as Bob Davis’ step-grandson.
Here’s the narrative of the investigation as reported by a Clark County deputy:
Upon arriving at Bob Davis’ home around 4 p.m., the deputy observed a car destroyed by fire in the driveway of a large rural home. The deputy learned the homeowner was medevaced to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in critical condition, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Karen Davis, Bob’s wife, told the deputy she left the house around noon and returned several hours later to find the unknown vehicle ablaze on the property.
She ventured inside the home with a neighbor who located Bob Davis in the master bedroom shower, severely injured. When Karen Davis went into the bathroom, Bob Davis managed to tell her “Miccah was involved,” the affidavit says.
Medics responded and treated Bob Davis while he was still inside the bathroom; they directed the witnesses to get outside as they realized gasoline had been poured throughout the house and there were fires in the garage.
Detectives determined Bob Davis’ GMC Yukon was gone and several rooms appeared to be ransacked. Two safes in the home had been opened, and multiple firearms and other valuables were missing, according to the affidavit.
The burnt Honda Accord in the driveway returned a registration with a report of sale to McDowell, according to the affidavit.
While Karen Davis awaited news about her husband’s medical treatment, McDowell called and texted her cellphone. She handed over the phone to deputies, who then convinced the young man to meet them at a Ridgefield Chevron.
Two detectives waited at the gas station for McDowell, and they spotted him approaching in a sedan before he turned around and threw a bag out the window while driving away, according to the affidavit. The bag contained a set of keys to Bob Davis’ GMC.
McDowell returned to the Chevron and spoke with law enforcement. He denied involvement in the robbery and attempted murder of his step-grandfather.
“He claimed he did not know how the keys ended up in the bag he threw out the window. Miccah stated he had not been to the Davis home in several years,” the affidavit says.
On Sunday, in between periods of sleep and waking, Bob Davis told detectives McDowell “came up and hugged him just prior to the assault. Two other men attacked him, striking him with guns in the garage as Miccah walked away,” the affidavit says.
The men took Bob Davis into the bathroom shower, where they stabbed him multiple times, the affidavit says. One of the assailants also fired a gun in the bathroom, but the allegations do not indicate whether Davis was shot.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office previously reported that two white men assaulted Bob Davis in the garage. Deputies said the two men started fires in the garage. Sgt. Brent Waddell said Monday that the sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the case.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor James Smith described the allegations in the attempted murder case as “extremely alarming.” In his argument for the large bail, Smith said it’s remarkable the victim survived the attack.
Bob Davis survived surgery. His family doctor said it appeared he was stabbed about 15 times and suffered many more cuts trying to defend himself. Davis suffered several knife wounds in his neck and other wounds barely missed vital organs, according to the affidavit.
Smith also noted McDowell’s criminal history dating to 2012, which includes convictions for trafficking stolen property, residential burglary and vehicle theft.
McDowell also had bail set at $50,000 in a separate domestic violence assault case.
Judge Bernard Veljacic set an arraignment hearing for June 20.