BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

In February, a jury founded a 31-year-old man guilty of murdering two men and then attempted to conceal the crime. Last week, a judge sentenced him for the double murders.
Judge Emmett Lamar Battles decided Derrick Cullins deserved two life sentences for the murders of his brother, Carl Walters, 21, and Walters’ friend, 20-year-old Ryan Darkins Davis.

The sentencing on April 13 brought the ordeal that began on April 9, 2009, to an end for two families. It began with the discovery of a nude body in a wooded area in Plant City on April 7, 2009. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives identified the young Black man as 21-year-old Carl Walters.

On February 2, 2010, children playing in a wooded area in Plant City discovered skeletal remains. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said they were the remains of 20-year-old Ryan Darkins Davis.

Davis was last seen leaving his mother’s home with Walters. Two days later, a passerby discovered his body. He had been stabbed 18 times. Davis’ body was not found at the time and police listed him as an endangered person. His skeletal remains were identified forensically ten months later.

During the joint investigation that followed, between the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department, a warrant was executed at 1810 E. Humphrey Street, just before midnight on April 10, 2009. Police said there was evidence of a violent struggle inside the house.

Cullins, who shared the home with Walters who was his half brother, had unexplained cuts on his fingers, a bite mark on his chest, and blood on his clothing and shoes, police said.

Police arrested Cullins on April 11, 2009, and charged him with second-degree murder in the death of his brother, Walters. An aggressive search for Davis was launched by the Tampa Police Department.
Investigators searched the landfill after discovering evidence that Cullins had disposed of something in the days following the murders.

Denies Guilt
Cullins has never admitted to committing the murders. During the sentencing phase Cullins said, “I did not make these egregious crimes, these heinous acts. … Of course, they are in heaven now and that is a comforting thought. … The actual murderer, I believe is going to hell, and will reside there for eternity. … I pray that things get well for everyone.”

Mother Hurt By Comments
“Even though he is going to serve two life sentences, it still hurts. I’m appalled that he is not even remorseful and he is still lying even with all of the evidence against him.

“It’s pitiful he can’t even admit to what he’s done even though he was handed the harshest sentence. I haven’t found it in my heart to forgive him, it’s still hurtful, my son is still gone” Mrs. Robin Harris, mother of Ryan Darkins Davis said.