~Alex Davon Buckman~

SOLVED

The search for a missing Alex Buckman has ended with the discovery of his body and three arrests. The Sheriff of Spartanburg County Chuck Wright said Buckman's body was found in the Abbeville County landfill Thursday morning. The sheriff said investigators think Buckman was killed at an Oxford Road home on or around the day he disappeared.

The men arrested in connection with Buckman's death are:

# Ralph Fleming, 25
# Louis Tarane Patterson, 25
# Karlton Katrell Brockman, 20

Media:
Three Charged In Death Of Missing Murder Witness, WYFF, 11-04-2005
 

Alex Davon Buckman's Story and Vital Statistic's-
Seventeen-year-old Alex Davon Buckman was always a very athletic young man. Davon, as his family called him, was the star running back at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. But life for Davon began to change when his parents divorced and his father left the home.

Davon's family says he was vulnerable and began to make some questionable decisions. They say first he began hanging with a crowd who was often in trouble. Then according to his family he began to skip school. After missing too many days Davon had to temporarily drop out of high school. The troubled teen was crushed because he was not able to do the one thing he was most passionate about- play football.

With some guidance from his older sister, LaCresha Stanton, he decided to enroll in Job Corps. Davon now at least had a plan and things were looking up for him.

On December 11, 2004, 17-year-old Davon and his older brother were hanging out with some friends and acquaintances at a home on Taylor Piedmont Road. Police say among the crowd were Clifton Fleming and Shamon Martin.

Davon began feeling nauseous and went to the bathroom. While he was in the bathroom Davon heard shots. He panicked and tried to climb out of the bathroom window but it was painted shut. He had no choice but to walk out of the bathroom and try to escape undetected.

When he opened the bathroom door what he found would place him in a whirlwind of problems. Davon found the slain body of Shamon Martin. Davon panicked and fled the scene. When cops arrived, they found Shamon's body slumped over a 1984 Cadillac that was parked in the front yard of the house.

Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Rescue crews were called to the scene. Police were looking for anyone who could talk to them about the shooting. Eventually Davon's name surfaced. "It was just a situation of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, hanging out with friends," said LaCresha. Her husband is also a Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputy. While searching the residence at the murder scene, investigators found crack cocaine.

Clifton had been under house arrest at the time of the murder; he told police he was home that night. But Davon told police that Clifton was there. Eventually, Clifton Fleming was arrested and charged with Martin's murder. Fleming had also been recently charged in a home invasion on two counts of kidnapping, armed robber, first degree burglary and providing false information to police. His older brother Ralph Fleming was also a suspect in Shamon's murder.

Davon's family says he was quite nervous about being a witness to a murder. Friends of his say that Clifton was not too pleased with Davon placing him at the scene of the murder. Clifton's older brother Ralph was also critical of Davon's cooperation with the cops.

One day Ralph paid Davon a visit. According to Davon's mother, Ralph dropped by the house to ask Davon what exactly he told police. So Davon went inside his home and asked his mother for a copy of the statement. He showed Ralph the police statement and tried to convince him that he did not "rat" on his brother. Davon's mother said Ralph did not appear to be convinced.

On March 24, 2005, Davon was hanging out with some friends in the Howard and Williams Street areas of Spartanburg. He did not come home that night. His mother says that she did not immediately worry because Davon used to stay out from time to time--but she says he always called her. However, this time Davon had not come home nor had he called anyone.

A few days later, Davon's mother received an anonymous phone call concerning her son. She immediately called the authorities. "We got a phone call that someone had heard he had been beaten up and put in the trunk of a white 4-door Mercury, and the guys were riding around with him in the trunk of the car," said LaCresha. "I believe he has been kidnapped. I believe he has been beaten. I don't know if he's alive. We believe he is the victim of a conspiracy. We just want him found."

Davon's family strongly believes that his disappearance is linked to the homicide investigation involving the brothers Ralph and Clifton Fleming. Ralph is serving time on unrelated charges. Clifton is awaiting trial for the murder of Shamon Martin. Meanwhile, Davon's family is desperate to find their missing loved one.

VITAL STATISTICS at time of disappearance

Classification : Endangered Missing
NCIC Number: M-914828390
Sex : Male
Race : Black
Age at Disappearance : 17
Age Now : 18
Height : 5'10''
Weight : 158 lbs.
Complexion : Dark
Hair Color : Black- had short dreadlocks at the time he disappeared.
Eye Color : Brown
Build : has an athletic build
Other Physical Characteristics : has gold teeth on the top and bottom teeth.
Clothing : Unknown
Jewelry: Gold dog tag necklace with his son's picture on it. Gold watch. Two gold rings.

Spartanburg County Sheriff's Department
Agency Case Number: 2005040154
Inv. Darren Dukes
(864) 596-3728

Call CrimeStoppers at 58-CRIME "864-582-7463"
Call Emergency 911
If you recognize "Alex Davon Buckman" or "Vehicle" DO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION YOURSELF: Get as much information as you can (e.g. license number of a vehicle, exact location of sighting, activities individual involved in) and then call the number(s) listed above.

Media Coverage

Missing Teen Last Seen with Murder Suspect's Brother - WSPA

Family Fears For Missing Murder Witness - WYFF

Deputies Go Door-To-Door In Search For Missing Spartanburg County Teen Teen Missing Since March - WYFF

Teen Murder Witness Vanishes - AMW

Mother's Day Is One Of The Most Difficult For One Upstate Mom - WHNS

Family Celebrates Missing Teen's Birthday - WYFF

Missing Teen Will Be Featured On America's Most Wanted - WHNS