Fond du Lac jury convicts man for brutal slaying

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On Saturday Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney announced that on February 23, 2024 a Fond du Lac County jury convicted Gary E. Davis of First Degree Intentional Homicide (Dangerous Weapon and Repeater), Mayhem (Dangerous Weapon and Repeater), and Hiding a Corpse (Repeater).

“The charges stem from the brutal slaying of Jacquelyn Rooney on November 9, 2022,” Toney said, noting the murder occurred in the City of Fond du Lac. Rooney’s body was found covered in her locked apartment with 14 stab wounds and multiple blunt force injuries to her head. The jury listened to five days of testimony and took approximately 40 minutes to reach their verdicts. Judge Douglas Edelstein revoked bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation report. A sentencing date has not yet been set, according to Toney.

Toney said, “My thoughts and prayers continue to be with Jackie’s family. We are grateful for the excellent investigation led by the Fond du Lac Police Department that helped Jackie’s family receive justice. I am also deeply appreciative of the jury for their time and attention as they were forced to hear the tragic details of Jackie’s murder.”

According to a copy of the criminal complaint obtained by the Wisconsin Law Journal, still shots from a Fond du Lac Kwik Trip surveillance camera positively identified Davis.

The first-degree intentional homicide conviction requires that Davis will be sentenced to life in prison and Judge Edelstein will determine if Davis will be eligible for release. On counts and 2 and 3 Davis faces 49.5 years of initial confinement and 20 years of extended supervision, Toney noted.

This case was investigated by the City of Fond du Lac Police Department, with assistance from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, the Grand Chute Police Department and the Wisconsin Crime Lab. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Eric Toney.