The Ghost Of David Coffin

After the case went to the jury, hours turn into days, then the court recesses for the weekend with no verdict.

The following Monday, after nearly four days of deliberations, jurors reached a verdict: guilty.

It's a bittersweet victory for David's father, David Coffin, Sr.

But for Scott Davis parents, it's a devastating blow. "When the jury walked in the room, I could tell by the look on their faces not one person looked at us," Dr. Davis tells Maher. "My heart sank. I couldn't believe it."

And Davis' girlfriend Christine can't believe it either. "I was absolutely not prepared for a guilty verdict," she says.

While Christine faces an uncertain future, Megan is finally able to come to terms with her past.

"I just felt like, 'Oh my God. I'm not scared anymore.' And I don't think I was truly sort of recognizing how scared I was. Until they said, 'We find Scott Davis guilty,'" she says.

The sentence is mandatory: life in prison.

But just before he is led away, Scott Davis addresses the court for the first time. "I have nothing but sympathy for the coffin family, however, I've maintained my innocence throughout this and I still maintain my innocence," he said.

After his conviction, Scott Davis asked his girlfriend to read a letter he had written to "48 Hours:" "I can't explain in words the horrible feeling of being sentenced to life in prison for a crime you didn't commit," Christine reads. "I will fight with all my strength and courage to re-gain my deserved freedom. Until then, I will not rest."

Christine says she will stand by Davis and is not planning to leave him.

But she may be waiting a long time. David's father is determined to keep Scott Davis right where he is.

"As far as I know this is the last picture that was ever taken of David that was two weeks before he passed away," Coffin, Sr. says, as he is showing pictures to "48 Hours." It was on that fateful weekend that his son told him about the new woman in his life, Megan Lee.

"He said to his father about you, 'This might be the real deal.' How do you feel about that?" Maher asks Megan.

"When he died, we never had a first fight. We never had a disagreement," she replies. "So he died a perfect man."

Scott Davis will be eligible for parole in 2020. He'll be 55. His attorneys are planning an appeal.

No one has claimed the $300,000 reward offered by the Coffin family.
Produced By Allen Alter, Daria Hirsch and Gail Zimmerman

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[craigzz]

I found it hilarious the way Scott Davis's Psychiatrist father, defended his murdering son so vehemently, even to the point of perjuring himself on the stand. I will find it hard to look at any psychiatrist now with any respect.

Yes, your son is a cold blooded murderer, one of those people you spent years giving your 'expert' opinion about, pretty ironic aye ?

[delwriter]

I think David was a handsome, very alluring gay man living as a straight....Can't help but think he'd still be alive if he'd embraced his true self. What a horrible thing.

[posbornejr]

Great piece gleaned from a very complicated set of facts. The real question now is why Paul Howard allowed this case to languish for 10 years when the evidence that ultimately convicted Davis in 2006 was present-and even stronger-in 1996. I don't think Howard wants that question posed in the next election.

[curtgre]

How did Megan know that David was dead when Craig came up to the house while it was on fire? The fireman did not know at that time!!!!!!!

[ollie1169]

Gonna watch this at 5 Paces. Who's with me?