PENSACOLA, FL – A Pensacola man is facing a murder trial after authorities say he brutally beat his girlfriend to death and later made a desperate internet search regarding CPR, all before meeting with his parole officer.
Davarius James, 38, is accused of killing Claudette Robinson, 50, whose body was discovered with extensive facial and chest injuries inside her North 7th Avenue home on February 3. First responders found Robinson lifeless in a recliner, her face swollen and covered with bruises, according to investigators. Evidence cited in court indicated possible signs of rug burn across her cheek.
The case unfolded when a longtime friend of James received a troubling phone call urging her to check on Robinson. Upon entering the residence, she found Robinson motionless and “cold to the touch,” with a severe bruise that forced one eye closed. The friend immediately suggested calling for help, but James reportedly showed concern over how the scene would appear to police, telling the friend the injuries came from a fall.
Authorities say that the friend stepped outside to call 911, and during this brief moment, James fled the scene. Once sheriff’s deputies arrived, they had the friend place a speakerphone call to James. During the conversation, James allegedly admitted he would “have to tell them about last night,” and conceded, “she been dead,” before abruptly ending the call after learning police were listening.
James was later apprehended and, in a recorded interview, told investigators he had been in a relationship with Robinson for two years and living together for the past year. He recounted an argument the prior evening over Robinson allegedly giving away his possessions to relatives—an accusation he said led to heated conflict. According to James, in the fray, Robinson yanked her arm back and fell, striking the back of her head. When pressed by authorities about the extent of injuries to her face, James provided a revised account, suggesting she twisted during the fall and first struck her face before hitting her head.
James recalled that Robinson managed to get up after the fall but soon became disoriented and collapsed again in the bathroom. He said he guided her to bed, where she clung to him before falling silent. In his account, James claimed he checked her breathing through the night and, at one point, poured cold water on her as she convulsed, hoping to revive her.
By early morning, James alleged Robinson was barely breathing, prompting him to leave for a parole appointment. Only after his return did he realize she was unresponsive and rigid, at which point he contacted friends seeking help.
Authorities also highlighted James’s prior arrest for domestic violence against Robinson, including past statements from her expressing fear for her life.
As prosecutors outlined the case against James during opening remarks, they revealed he performed a Google search that read, “If I performed CPR over five hours ago, why isn’t it working,” a detail investigators say adds to the suspicion surrounding his actions and timeline.
James has remained incarcerated in Escambia County Jail since his arrest. The trial is ongoing as the court weighs evidence and testimonies surrounding the circumstances leading to Robinson’s death.