BAKERSFIELD – On March 4th, the Kern County District Attorney Office announced that two brothers identified as Jahquan and Jaysean Davenport were found guilty of the murder and arson from 2022.
Jahquan was found guilty of first-degree murder of Rosamond resident Ronneta Faye Martin and arson by setting the vehicle on fire attempting to destroy evidence linking him to the crime, his brother Jaysean was acquitted of first-degree murder however, he was convicted of arson of Martin’s vehicle for helping his brother cover up the murder.
According to court documents and the DA’s office, in July 2022, the brothers were offered by Martin to stay at her residence in Rosamond; she also frequently gave them rides. Then, about a month later on Aug. 1st, she drove the brothers from Rosamond to different places in Lancaster then later told the brothers they couldn’t stay at her residence any longer and asked them to leave.
While traveling from Lancaster back to Rosamond, an argument ensued and that’s when Jahquan (who was seated behind the victim) pulled a gun, shot her in the head, pushed her lifeless body aside then drove the vehicle into the desert.
After disposing of Martin (whose remains were found on Aug. 15, 2022), Jahquan then drove back to Lancaster in the victim’s car, picked up Jaysean and drove to Inglewood where they abandoned the vehicle on a residential street and set it on fire.
Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the blaze, extinguished the fire and officials determined through their investigation that the fire was due to arson.
A lengthy investigation by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office concluded that the brothers were among a few people to be seen with Martin the day she was murdered, prosecutors said the investigation also showed that the brothers were seen on surveillance video in the vehicle before and while setting the fire.
Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said after the verdict, “Jahquan and Jaysean Davenport went to great lengths in an effort to conceal a murder and destroy evidence, this crime crossed county lines and required a complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation. Thanks to the relentless dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors, this verdict delivers accountability and honors the life and memory of Ronnetta Martin.”
Jahquan Davenport is set to be sentenced on April 1, 2026, where he faces 50 years to life, plus 11 years while his brother Jaysean Davenport faces 11 years in prison; Antone James who was the 3rd co-defendant and initially arrested in Sept. 2022, was acquitted of murder and arson.