She always denied involvement in her husband's disappearance. Anyone believe her?

She always denied involvement in her husband's disappearance. Anyone believe her?

Absolutely not! Didn't she have a rummage sale and sold his clothes right after he went missing? No doubt she knew for a fact he wouldn't be needing them anymore.

100% guilty. No doubt about it.

guilty.

Absolutely not! Didn't she have a rummage sale and sold his clothes right after he went missing? No doubt she knew for a fact he wouldn't be needing them anymore.

Same here. I don't believe she is innocent.

The rummage sale was definitely a hint that she knew her husband wasn't coming back. If she had nothing to do with her husband's disappearance, why would she sell any of his personal belongings? That makes no sense. Either she was involved in her husband's disappearance or is covering for someone who was. I just don't see any other explanation to it.

HELL to the NO! :lol:

Absolutely not.

I believe she is guilty.

Not only did she have a yard sale the next day, she attempted to steal all his other assets and sell those too.

Here is an article from the time of her arrest.

http://www.clpex.com/Articles/Newz/2002/2002-10-05.htm


--------------------

Convict Captured, Despite New Face

From Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. -- A 71-year-old woman who escaped from a California prison camp four years ago and disguised herself through plastic surgery was arrested Thursday after authorities received a tip.

At the time of her August 1998 escape, Astarte Rice-Davis was serving a 15-year federal sentence for embezzling from her husband's estate.

James Rice had disappeared from his Virgin Islands home in 1986. The body of the Contra Costa developer was never found and he was declared dead in 1988.

Rice-Davis, whose surgery made her appear much younger, had been featured on several television shows, including "Unsolved Mysteries," "A Current Affair" and "America's Most Wanted."

A second "Unsolved Mysteries" episode about her aired in September, said Jason Wong, task force coordinator for the U.S. Marshals Service.

On Tuesday, a Spokane informant who recognized Rice-Davis from the episode led authorities to her. She was captured early Thursday as she drove away from her house.

Her fingerprints proved she was the fugitive, Wong said.

Rice-Davis walked away from a prison camp in Dublin, Calif., near Oakland. Prison officials discovered during a routine roll call that she was missing.

Wong said authorities were still investigating what Rice-Davis had done in Spokane, where she apparently held several jobs.

Dave Wiyrick, a spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, declined to say where Rice-Davis had been living, except that it was in an affluent part of the South Hill area of Spokane.

Her escape from the prison camp wasn't her first foray as a fugitive.

According to court records, 24 hours after her husband disappeared, Rice-Davis filed a false deed conveying his St. Croix house and undeveloped lots to her, and significantly lowered the price to raise money quickly.

The next day, she held a garage sale and sold her husband's pickup, cement mixer, two 40-foot trailers, furniture and construction gear at bargain rates, records show.

After her indictment on the embezzlement charges, she fled house arrest in the Virgin Islands and lived for 18 months under a fake name in Santa Barbara.

Copyright © 2002 The Los Angeles Times

I also thought people on the forum might find it interesting she filed an appeal in 2007 to be released from prison. Not because she is innocent, per se, but due to the way things were handled.

"Petitioner Astarte Davis-Rice asks that we issue a writ of mandamus compelling the District Court of the Virgin Islands to order her immediate release from federal prison and expungement of her criminal record. Davis-Rice appears to argue that, due to violations of the Uniform Commercial Code by the Government during the course of her current litigation, she should be released from prison and her conviction overturned."

Looks like it was denied.

http://www.lexisone.com/lx1/caselaw/freecaselaw?action=OCLGetCaseDetail&format=FULL&sourceID=gdih&searchTerm=eOIE.CXZa.aadi.YeDE&searchFlag=y&l1loc=FCLOW

I'm her granddaughter and I know what happened so shut up

She is out of jail and I am her granddaughter I know what happened so shut up

Same here. I don't believe she is innocent.

The rummage sale was definitely a hint that she knew her husband wasn't coming back. If she had nothing to do with her husband's disappearance, why would she sell any of his personal belongings? That makes no sense. Either she was involved in her husband's disappearance or is covering for someone who was. I just don't see any other explanation to it.
U know nothing I know everything. I am her granddaughter so stop pretending like u were there. And the rummage sale wasn't of his things or their personal belongings and if he was still alive she would have been richer. Ur idiots

U know nothing I know everything. I am her granddaughter so stop pretending like u were there. And the rummage sale wasn't of his things or their personal belongings and if he was still alive she would have been richer. Ur idiots

Your posting might be a touch more believable if you hadn't posted three separate times and had left off the "shut up" part.

U know nothing I know everything. I am her granddaughter so stop pretending like u were there. And the rummage sale wasn't of his things or their personal belongings and if he was still alive she would have been richer. Ur idiots

It wouldn't matter if you were actually ADR herself. Your nastiness and terrible grammar make it impossible to take you seriously. And besides, how to know that you're even her granddaughter at all? You would hardly be the first so-called relative to appear on any of these message boards defending someone that pretty much the whole world has already condemned.

Your posting might be a touch more believable if you hadn't posted three separate times and had left off the "shut up" part.
Um im 14 look me up. And I posted it once thank you very much.

It wouldn't matter if you were actually ADR herself. Your nastiness and terrible grammar make it impossible to take you seriously. And besides, how to know that you're even her granddaughter at all? You would hardly be the first so-called relative to appear on any of these message boards defending someone that pretty much the whole world has already condemned.
Sorry that I'm 14 and i use txt lingo bc i dont gove a **** that u r 90 years old and u got beaten by the dictonary if ur grammer and spelling wasnt write plus in dyslexic so imma call u out on discriminating, bitch. my father is loyal Davis look him up and u will find he has two kids, me and my brother. The last time I saw my grandmother was thanksgiving. And FYI I'm not defending her I'm just saying ur the idiot who think he/ she knows everything. When u don't. If u want u can take a god damn blood test of me and it will just lead u back to her.

Um im 14 look me up. And I posted it once thank you very much.

I don't care about the word "Umm" but just some free advice no one will take you seriously if you type the way you text on your cell phone. For example:

"Ur" should be "You're"

"u" should be "you"

Other than that, if you are 14 how in the world can you remember what happened?

I don't care about the word "Umm" but just some free advice no one will take you seriously if you type the way you text on your cell phone. For example:

"Ur" should be "You're"

"u" should be "you"

Other than that, if you are 14 how in the world can you remember what happened?
You must be over fifty because even my mother uses text messaging language and why do you even care? And I happen to know the people who were involved plus my whole family knows what happened. Is that grammer better for you princess?

I don't care about the word "Umm" but just some free advice no one will take you seriously if you type the way you text on your cell phone. For example:

"Ur" should be "You're"

"u" should be "you"

Other than that, if you are 14 how in the world can you remember what happened?

Yes, that particular item seems to have escaped this poster.
How would a 14 year-old "remember everything?"

Like I said in another thread, a jury found this woman guilty based on evidence, not speculation. This person "getting mad" has no effect on that fact. Perhaps her/his energies should go towards helping her granny file an appeal of her conviction.

You must be over fifty because even my mother uses text messaging language and why do you even care? And I happen to know the people who were involved plus my whole family knows what happened. Is that grammer better for you princess?

Nope, very close to in the middle of 14-50 years old since you asked. I won't bother getting into the poor spelling habits of the current generation since "text messaging language" is another way of making our society dumber, but I will ask again, you are 14 right? You simply can't remember what happened, no offense.

If you know what happened based on second hand information then please share with us what you were told.

Sorry that I'm 14 and i use txt lingo bc i dont gove a **** that u r 90 years old and u got beaten by the dictonary if ur grammer and spelling wasnt write plus in dyslexic so imma call u out on discriminating, bitch. my father is loyal Davis look him up and u will find he has two kids, me and my brother. The last time I saw my grandmother was thanksgiving. And FYI I'm not defending her I'm just saying ur the idiot who think he/ she knows everything. When u don't. If u want u can take a god damn blood test of me and it will just lead u back to her.


For your information, I am 30.

Also, I'm not a girl, so don't you dare call me b***h.

How does being 14 prove anything?

For your information, I am 30.

Also, I'm not a girl, so don't you dare call me b***h.
In a previous post you said you were her grand daughter. How does that not make you a girl?

What was the name of this segment when it aired on UM?

In a previous post you said you were her grand daughter. How does that not make you a girl?

You're quoting the wrong user, actually. IzzeBee is claiming to be the granddaughter, not McBeavis. And I have to agree. If you use proper spelling and grammar, we will take you more seriously, especially if you are less antagonistic. So please, let us know your arguments and we will gladly listen if you are less aggressive.

IzzeBee you are without a doubt one of the most immature posters ever to come on here which should make sense since you are a child of 14. This is a message board and everyone is entitled to their opinion on whether your grandmother is guilty or not. Whether you like what they think makes no difference to us. Anymore immature behavior or attacks will be deleted!!!

Sorry that I'm 14 and i use txt lingo bc i dont gove a **** that u r 90 years old and u got beaten by the dictonary if ur grammer and spelling wasnt write plus in dyslexic so imma call u out on discriminating, bitch. my father is loyal Davis look him up and u will find he has two kids, me and my brother. The last time I saw my grandmother was thanksgiving. And FYI I'm not defending her I'm just saying ur the idiot who think he/ she knows everything. When u don't. If u want u can take a god damn blood test of me and it will just lead u back to her.

Well that settles it, I'm convinced in IzzeBee's testimony now. Anybody who talks like Kanye West MUST be telling the truth, right? Who's with me?

im not too familiar with this case, but didnt this woman escape jail? Thats not good no matter how you cut it. If that was my granny I would think I would be researching online and asking for some answers

im not too familiar with this case, but didnt this woman escape jail? Thats not good no matter how you cut it. If that was my granny I would think I would be researching online and asking for some answers
Um well she did escape but then she was put back in jail and then she did her time. So she was released.

Esterbelle White AKA Astarte Davis Rice
This is the Real Story...Astarte allegedly hired Skip Burch (Salt River Harbor Master and drug smuggler) to kill Jim Rice in July 1986. She signed over his fishing boat to Skip, using a fake power of attorney, for payment on the hit. Jim's boat was seized by US Customs in Tortola a few months later, as it was being used as a drug smuggling vessel. Skip was found guilty for operating a front business and drug smuggling activities.

Her son, Noble Dawn Davis (now 53 yrs old) was allegedly directly involved in Jim's murder, and purchased a new anchor for the boat right after they supposedly dumped Jim's body in the ocean off White Horse Reef. This is the same son responsible for the arson of another fishing boat, the Blue Hawaii (that Jim owned) in HI many years before this. Noble served time in HI for other crimes, arson, theft, drugs.

Astarte sold Jim's construction tools and his yellow dodge truck at her so called garage sale, and the neighbors were puzzled by this. This was presented by the Prosecutor as evidence.

Noble Davis allegedly posed as Jim on a flight to Miami, FL with his mom, Astarte, where they then went to a Texas bank to remove money from Jim's savings accounts.

Astarte then made up several stories of Jim's whereabouts, all taped by the FBI and introduced into the investigation as evidence. She faked several documents to cover her trail and PLEADED GUILTY to several counts of fraud, conspiracy, etc. Noble Davis also PLEADED GUILTY to a few counts of forgery, conspiracy, etc. They both served time for these crimes. But not for the murder....it is a cold case at this point.

This is all public record, here is a good summary
caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&case=/data2/circs/3rd/940915p.html&friend=nytimes

She still claims she is innocent...but the paper trails, the evidence, and the FBI file shows otherwise.

All the while, she runs from her incarceration (the first time) and goes to Santa Barbara while on the run, and is caught under a fake name, as a book keeper, embezzling money from another elderly man, as well as trying to seduce him. She PLEADED GUILTY Again, and served time for that as well...

Supposedly, Noble Davis helps his mother escape from Dublin, CA Fed prison and thus the show about her capture on Americas Most Wanted. Lastly, a book was written by the US District Attorney, Federal Prosecutor David Nissman, "Follow the Money" that directly outlines the facts of this case. www cjpbooks.com / ftm_book_detail_reviews.htm

Her other son, Loyal Davis, who operates a construction company in Santa Rosa, CA, reportedly contacted FBI investigators to try and clear his name on the investigation as well. Loyal told the FBI that his mother and brother were involved in Jim's "disappearance", however this evidence is heresay, so can't be used as proof to solve the murder. The fact that Loyal was willing to do this to clear his name, is very suspicious.

In the meantime, Jim's family spent the entire "estate" just fighting this con woman. And it nearly drove the family to financial ruin. There is a civil lawsuit, which was awarded to Jim's Family, against Astarte and Noble Davis. Not a penny has been received, yet... In prison, she was repealing these charges and counter suing even the judges of the cases, and was then ruled a "vexatious litigant". But that didn't stop her from filing again and again, until she was threatened with more jail time. Supposedly, Astarte even included coded messages in the lawsuit amount, threatening Jim's family, example, $187 million. 187 is a police code for a homicide, which was also brought to the FBI's attention.

She is supposedly a self-proclaimed priestess of the satanic church, thereby the name "astarte" which means seductive whore/woman of satan. Now that should raise a few red flags.

Esterbelle White
AKA: Astarte Davis-Rice
Astarte Davis
A. Dorian Davis
Esta White
Jon Henry
Joe Cannon
Astarte Rice

Inmate No. 01137-094
Prison Custody Information
Location: Cornell Corrections, Inc.
111 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Escaped From Release and Apprehended on June 11, 2003
Release Date: May 14, 2008
Age: 75

Astarte and Noble Davis are now walking free among us today.

That being said, the disappearance of Jim Rice, and supposed murder, is a cold case. Supposedly, the Davis family is still under surveillance and a PI tracks their activities, as directed by the family of Jim Rice.

Justice Shall Prevail, and that is a promise!

Esterbelle White AKA Astarte Davis Rice

Here is another great link to the file
caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&case=/data2/circs/3rd/940915p.html&friend=nytimes

PINION OF THE COURT

___________

LEWIS, Circuit Judge .

On December 21, 1988, Astarte Davis was charged in a 28-count information with forgery, grand larceny, perjury, obtaining money under false pretenses, filing false documents, maintaining a fraudulent civil action, preparing false evidence and making false statements to the government in Government of the Virgin Islands v. Astarte Davis , D.C. VI Crim. No. 88-132 (the "V.I. Case"). Davis was also indicted on five counts of mail fraud in United States v. Astarte Davis , D.C. VI Crim. No. 88-403 (the "U.S. Case").

On October 10, 1991, Davis pleaded guilty to Counts One (Conspiracy to Defraud, in violation of Virgin Islands Code, Title 14, Section 551); Two (Forgery on Real Property Deed, in violation of Virgin Islands Code, Title 14, Section 791(1)); Twenty-Four (Offering False Evidence in a Civil Case, in violation of Virgin Islands Code, Title 14, Section 1504); Twenty-Five (Perjury, in violation of Virgin Islands Code, Title 14, Section 1541); and Twenty-Six (Selling Property Obtained Unlawfully, in violation of Virgin Islands Code, Title 14, Section 2101(a) in the V.I. Case; and Count Two (Mail Fraud, in violation of United States Code, Title 18, Section 1341) of the indictment in the U.S. Case. Davis also pleaded guilty to Making False Statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (§ 1001) and Failure to Appear in violation on 18 U.S.C. § 3146 (§ 3146). 1

Both the V.I. Case and the U.S. Case involved Davis' efforts to defraud the estate of James Merrills Rice (Rice estate) of more than one million dollars worth of real and personal property. 2 Specifically, Davis prepared a false and fictitious last will and testament of James Rice purporting to bequeath to her the bulk of the Rice Estate; altered Rice's power of attorney, giving herself full and complete control over his property, assets and affairs; and prepared a false warranty deed for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of valuable realty owned by Rice to herself. Using the forged documents, Davis transferred title for or otherwise unlawfully appropriated or conveyed personal property belonging to Rice which was valued at more than $120,000. Davis also forged Rice's signature on a series of checks which totalled $10,985 and entered into contractual agreements concerning Rice's boat, the Fish Eagle, assigning to herself a percentage of the profits earned by the venture.

In addition to the other illegal activities Davis stood convicted of by virtue of her plea in the V.I. Case, she filed a lawsuit against a number of entities and individuals, including Rice, to quiet title to property she had fraudulently obtained. In preparation for that lawsuit, Davis forged letters, deeds and other documents to make it appear as though James Rice was alive and that he had given all of his worldly possessions to her and her sons. Davis presented the false documents at a deposition during which she also gave false testimony.

With respect to the U.S. Case, Davis prepared forged documents instructing the Guardian Savings Bank in Houston, Texas, to transfer two one hundred thousand (100,000) dollar certificates of deposit into an account held by the Icon Corporation, which was wholly-owned by Davis and her sons.

As a result of her guilty pleas, on January 31, 1992, the District Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix, sentenced Davis to 10 years imprisonment and five years probation in connection with the V.I. Case, and 15 months imprisonment in connection with the U.S. Case. 3 In addition, the court ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $547,000. 4

Following the district court's denial of her motions for reduction of sentence and for reconsideration, Davis appealed, claiming that the district court had failed to make specific findings with respect to: (1) the amount of loss sustained by the Rice estate as a result of the offenses; (2) her own financial resources and the relationship between the amount of restitution imposed, and (3) any loss caused by the underlying offenses for which she was convicted. Upon the government's request, we remanded the case for additional fact-finding in connection with the district court's restitution order. Government of the Virgin Islands v. Davis , Nos. 92-7472, 92-7473 and 92-7474 (3d Cir. Jan. 20, 1993).

On remand, the district court conducted an evidentiary hearing and reduced the amount of restitution from $547,000 to $297,246.78. Of the total amount, $229,282.78 was awarded pursuant to Title 5, Virgin Islands Code, § 3721 (1993) (V.I.C. § 3721 or V.I. restitution statute), and the remaining $67,964 was awarded under the Victim and Witness Protection Act (VWPA), 18 U.S.C. §§ 3663-3664. Davis now appeals the modified restitution order. We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

OMG. How did I miss this gem of a thread the first time around?

Poor IzzeBee. You're all railing on her for being hip with the text message lingo. What fuddy-duddies you are. Dang. Cut a gal some slack, will ya? :)

And if IzzeBee happens to read this-- I'm not 50, either. Like you, I am an avid texter as well. With the exception of "OMG" and "LOL," I never text, write, or e-mail in this lingo. I use complete sentences. Why? I do it because I want to be taken seriously. I'm not a control freak with my grammar, but I think the way "text message lingo" has butchered the English language is appalling.

I appreciate that you feel loyalty for your grandmother and want to defend her. However, everyone (including you) is entitled to their own opinions. You can't change that. I hope that over the last few years, you have grown more mature and can respect other's opinions, even if you think they are incorrect.

she guilty

Too bad they never nailed her for the murder.

I mean, 2bad dey nevr nild hur 4 der mrduer lolo

I want a cage match between Astarte and that horrible old lady involved in the Wendy Camp case.

A cage match to the death...because nothing of value will be lost.

I want a cage match between Astarte and that horrible old lady involved in the Wendy Camp case.

A cage match to the death...because nothing of value will be lost.

Like.

After watching this story again on Amazon, I have to laugh at the notion that there is any doubt about this woman's guilt.

OMG. How did I miss this gem of a thread the first time around?

I agree! I don't know what was more entertaining: the alleged granddaughter's claims of Astarte's innocence, or her poor grammar skills. :rolleyes:

Just saw this one for the first time (am on my 2nd run through of seasons 1-8), but there's no doubt in my mind that this woman is guilty - I doubt she could've made it any more obvious.

That's quite the interesting theory put forth by RealRice too (wonder if anyone has bothered to look into "Skip Burch" ?).

she guilty

LOL

She couldn't be more guilty.

1 thing I have learned from Unsolved Mysteries is if you kill someone and hide the body so it's never found there is almost no chance of anything happening to you.
It's kinda scary.