A Minnesota man who killed his girlfriend after finding out about an alleged affair has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Joseph Davis, aged 35, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Christine Morris, aged 33, at their home in St. Paul. Davis fell asleep with the couple’s toddler and called a relative to apologize, per court documents.
The case gained wider attention after police found a 2-year-old in the home.
What Happened Exactly?
Around 5.15 a.m., St. Paul police were called to a property on Edmund Avenue in the Frogtown area.
Davis had called a family member to tell them that he had killed Morris and was “sorry”, per the criminal complaint. When officers arrived, they found the couple’s 2-year-old daughter alone in the living room. The child was unharmed.
Morris’ body was found upstairs and was covered with a blanket. The officer who found her said her body was “pretty messed up.”
Davis was arrested in the early hours of the following morning and booked into the Ramsey County jail. He was charged with second-degree intentional murder by prosecutors. A judge set his bail at $2.5 million at his initial court appearance.
This was the third homicide in St. Paul during 2025.
What Court Records Said About the Motive
Davis allegedly sent messages to Morris the previous night in which he accused her of cheating, per the charges. Davis had found out that she had an alleged affair with a married man, as reported by an outlet.
Davis said, “[she] had been f—ing him over for 5 years by cheating on him, manipulating him and lying to him.”
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner found that Morris had suffered multiple stab wounds. Davis later pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years by a judge.
A History of Domestic Violence Cases
Davis has previously had convictions for domestic violence against Morris. In May 2023 and January 2024, he was sentenced for the gross misdemeanor of domestic assault against Morris. Davis was also sentenced for violating a no-contact order between him and Morris due to domestic abuse.
Another ex-girlfriend had a restraining order against him due to fearing he would harm her.
Months ago, Morris had told a friend that if she or her daughter went missing or died, it would be Davis’ fault, per the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
How Morris Will Be Remembered
Morris ran her own catering company, providing Jamaican food.
Loved ones described her as someone who impacted many lives and was a best friend to many.
She was one of 32 people who were recognized in a memorial display in Minnesota for victims of intimate partner homicide.
