ORLANDO, Fla. – A man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to murdering the wife of an Orlando pastor filed a motion on Wednesday to withdraw his plea, according to court documents.
Ronald Davis was arrested in the attack that left 85-year-old Lucy Pat Curl unconscious and hospitalized in critical condition. She later died after being taken off life support.
Davis pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree murder, burglary of a dwelling with an assault or battery and robbery. According to the newly-filed motion, Davis is seeking to withdraw his plea and claims he was coerced into pleading guilty because he was facing the death penalty if the case went to trial.
According to an arrest affidavit, Davis claimed to be a community service officer before forcing his way into Lucy Pat Curl’s home.
She told police that she was struck repeatedly as she attempted to fight back until ultimately being knocked unconscious. Investigators noted that a crystal candy jar with a large clump of Curl’s hair on it was seen in a large pool of blood.
She told investigators she woke up bleeding and crawled to her vehicle in the garage, honking the horn for someone to hear, before crawling back into the home and onto the couch where her husband, Bill Curl, discovered her several hours later.
Records from the Florida Department of Corrections show Davis had a criminal history that dates back to the 1980s. Prior to the attack, he spent time in prison after a burglary case in Orange County.
News 6 has learned that Davis was sentenced to 15 years in that case and was released from a correctional facility in June 2024 — seven months before he was arrested by Orlando police again in the home invasion.
Davis’ next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 at 9:15 a.m.