Man Accused of Strangling Girlfriend to Death Appears in Court for the First Time

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The man accused of killing his girlfriend and burying her body in Atlanta made his first court appearance on Thursday, where a judge ruled he will have to wait several weeks before finding out whether he is eligible for bond.

Cecil McCrary, the accused, is charged with murdering his girlfriend, Tange Davis, and allegedly strangling her to death before burying her body in a secluded area of Atlanta.

During the brief hearing, McCrary spoke only a few words in his defense, maintaining that he was not responsible for Davis’ death.

According to Cobb County Police, the case began when Tange’s son reported that he had last spoken to his mother on October 9. Two days later, concerned for her safety, he tracked her car using GPS to a grocery store parking lot in Mableton.

When police arrived, McCrary was also at the scene. He reportedly told officers that Tange had left his home on October 9 and even presented a video clip that he claimed showed her leaving.

However, the investigation soon took a grim turn. Police said that on Tuesday, McCrary confessed to killing Tange and burying her body in Atlanta.

McCrary is currently being held without bond. The magistrate judge presiding over the hearing explained that murder charges cannot receive bond at the magistrate level. Instead, McCrary’s request for bond must be reviewed by a superior court judge.

“All the other charges, I’m going to issue no bond in those charges because of the murder charge,” the judge stated during the hearing.

McCrary faces multiple charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, concealing a death, and two counts of theft by taking.

Investigators revealed that police had responded to multiple domestic violence incidents involving McCrary and Davis in the past. At the time of the alleged murder, McCrary was out on release for kidnapping and aggravated assault both related to previous domestic violence cases involving the same victim.

Authorities said those prior cases underscore a pattern of abuse that ultimately escalated to homicide.

McCrary is scheduled to appear before a superior court judge on November 12, when the court will determine whether he will be granted bond pending trial.