The murder trial for Randy O’Neal Davidson is scheduled to take place early next year.

According to Assistant District Attorney Carol Boone, the trial is scheduled to start on Feb. 28, with a final pre-trial conference to take place Jan. 31.

Davidson is facing capitol murder charges stemming from the death of 62-year-old Diana Donahoo Rice of Shelby County.

On April 3, 2009, Davidson showed up at a home where Rice cared for an elderly person after an alleged car wreck, saying he was waiting for someone to come assist him. The person Rice cared for testified that he went to bed around 7:45 p.m. and Davidson was still at the house. When he awoke at 4 a.m. the next day, however, both were gone, even though Rice was expected to stay the night.

Rice’s purse was recovered by law enforcement about a minute’s drive from where her body was found off Camp Winnataska Road.

Davidson admitted to being high on methamphetamine and had no recollection of killing Rice.