A Minnesota teen is headed to prison after a fatal stabbing that prosecutors say was ultimately exposed by a co-defendant's private journal, a notebook investigators described as a crucial breakthrough in a case marked by extreme violence and betrayal.
Jeremy Joe Davila, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Jay'Mier K. Givens and was sentenced to 25 and a half years in prison on Friday. He received credit for roughly eight months already served.
A second suspect, a 14-year-old boy, was also charged with second-degree murder but has not been publicly identified due to his age.
Victim Found Fatally Wounded on St Paul Street
Officers with the St. Paul Police Department responded to reports of an unresponsive man lying in the street at around 11:30 p.m. on 31 March 2025. Paramedics rushed Givens to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy later revealed the teenager had suffered 22 stab wounds. Eighteen were to his back, with additional injuries to his upper left arm, neck and right hand, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit.
Friends Lured Victim Out Before Killing
Investigators said Givens had gone out 'to smoke' with Davila and the younger teen, whom police identified in court documents as JC. The two suspects are foster brothers and lived about three blocks from where the victim was found.
GPS data from Givens' phone placed him near the suspects' home shortly before the killing. Surveillance footage captured three people entering a wooded area, but only two were seen running away moments later, police said.
Detectives also noted unusual behaviour at the suspects' house following the homicide. A neighbour reported that windows were covered with blankets or curtains in the hours after the attack.
Knives Hidden as Journal Raises Alarms
Police obtained a search warrant for the home on 8 April and recovered two knives hidden in basement rafters, along with clothing that matched what the suspects were wearing in surveillance footage.
The case took a decisive turn after officers arrested the 14-year-old at his temporary foster home on 1 May. Foster parents told police the teen had seemed anxious in recent days and had been given a notebook to write down his thoughts.
Several pages reportedly referenced the killing. According to the affidavit, the teen wrote phrases such as 'we dropped one', described the victim being stabbed in the back, and referred to the aftermath as 'hella fun'.
Admissions Made to Detectives
While initially denying involvement, the younger suspect later admitted to stabbing Givens, investigators said. He allegedly told police he chased the victim and attacked him during the confrontation.
The teen claimed there had been ongoing conflict because Givens was 'dissing' his girlfriend's child. He also told detectives that he and Davila lured the victim out by falsely claiming they were in a stolen car, saying the story was designed to 'interest him'.
After the killing, both suspects allegedly washed the knives and hid them inside the house.
Family Speaks as Teen Is Sentenced
During sentencing, members of Givens' family addressed the court. His uncle, DeWayne Givens, spoke about the sense of betrayal, saying he believed the victim had trusted the suspects.
According to courtroom reporting from the Pioneer Press, Davila kept his head down for much of the hearing and said only 'may he rest in peace' when asked if he wished to speak.
Givens' mother, Waynesha Givens, held her son's graduation cap and high school diploma, which he earned just four months before his death. She told the court it was 'horrible' that his life was cut so short, adding that he would always be with her.
