Slain Tampa woman had troubled history

The body of Adrien Davis of Tampa was found in an industrial area. She had a drug and prostitution record and was last seen in a pickup area.

By LEANORA MINAI and TAMARA LUSH
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 21, 2002

PINELLAS PARK -- Police on Tuesday identified the body of a woman found in the Gateway Industrial Area as Tampa resident Adrien Davis.

Davis, 33, was last seen Sunday at Hillsborough Avenue and 48th Street in Tampa, an area known for prostitution, said Pinellas Park Detective Ken Blessing.

Somehow she ended up in a wooded area behind Polypack, a business that makes shrink-wrap machines at 3301 Gateway Center Blvd. in Pinellas Park. Her body was found Monday.

"She was probably killed in the perpetrator's vehicle, but where that occurred, we don't know," Blessing said.

Davis, the mother of three daughters, had been arrested more than two dozen times in Hillsborough County on prostitution and drug charges. She left a drug treatment center on Aug. 7 and did not return, police said.

She was sent to the drug treatment program instead of serving a 31/2-year prison sentence on cocaine charges, police said.

Investigators now are trying to trace Davis' last movements. They say her mother, Susan Norby, was the last person to see Davis at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Hillsborough Avenue and 48th Street.

Norby, who lives in Tampa and is caring for her daughter's children, drove by the area with the children and saw Davis hanging around. Norby could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

On arrest records, Davis always gave her address as 11523 Annette Ave. in Tampa, a home in the Lamplighter Mobile Home Park. Her mother lived there and cared for Davis' daughters,

Neighbors said Davis rarely visited.

Police think Davis, who was staying at a Tampa motel, might have been soliciting for prostitution when her mother saw her Sunday.

"She was either killed over in Hillsborough and dumped over here, or she was brought over here and killed and then dumped," said Blessing, the Pinellas Park detective.

Anyone with information about Davis is asked to call Blessing at (727) 541-0726.

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