Teenager, 17, who faked his own disappearance to go on the run after robbing and killing his mother’s ex-boyfriend, is sentenced to 12 years in prison

A teenager who faked his own disappearance has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after robbing and killing his mother’s ex-boyfriend.

Gabriel Michael Davies, 17, and his friend Justin Yoon, 17, who helped him commit the burglary and murder of Daniel McCaw, 51, both pleaded guilty in court in September.

“I’m a child who made a mistake and I know it was a terrible mistake, but that doesn’t define who I am,” Davies said in court at the time.

Davies and Yoon were sentenced on Friday to twelve years in prison and two years and nine months of community detention.

McCaw’s body was not discovered until four days after his murder, and during that time Davies staged his own disappearance before being found two days later.

Gabriel Michael Davies (left), 17, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the murder of his mother’s ex-boyfriend. Justin Yoon (right), 17, was convicted along with Davies for assisting in the murder in 2022

The two teens murdered Daniel McCaw (pictured) in 2022. The man was found days later in his home with gunshot and stab wounds

Davies was reported missing on August 31, 2022 and found two days later. Officers found items thrown throughout the vehicle, bloodstains and a shattered cell phone outside

Davies and Yoon were caught on surveillance footage outside McCraw’s home on August 28, 2022.

Authorities said the video showed that the two boys snuck into the man’s home through the doggy door an hour before McCraw entered his home and never came out.

The teens were then seen leaving the house through the side door as they ran to and from the garage and carried belongings.

McCraw was found shot to death on September 1, 2022, after authorities visited his home in Orting for a welfare check.

When they entered his home, they said the house had a rotting body and the man was found lifeless in the laundry room with gunshot wounds and stab wounds on his body.

On August 31, 2022, Davies, an Olympia High School football player, never showed up for practice and was reported missing.

His car was found two days later near Tenino. Officers found items thrown throughout the vehicle, bloodstains and a shattered cell phone outside.

Court documents showed Davies told authorities he “admitted to damaging his cell phone because he was afraid police would discover what was on it.”

During the suspected disappearance of Davies (left), police discovered that his mother and McCaw had previously been in a relationship

Gabriel Michael Davies, 16, of Olympia (pictured) was charged with manslaughter, burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm following the 51-year-old’s death

The motive for the murder committed by Davies and Yoon (left) is still unknown, but the boys risk twelve years in prison

He also told police he could not remember where he went during his suspected disappearance.

During Davies’ suspected disappearance, police discovered that McCraw had previously dated the teen’s mother.

In the space of 24 hours, Davies and Yoon, who were both 16 at the time, were arrested for McCaw’s murder.

“I will spend the rest of my life making this right,” Yoon said in court.

KOMO news reported that Davies’ father called police on September 2, 2022, telling them that “Gabe was involved” in the victim’s death.

He also said his son was apparently approached by “bikers” new McCaw, who then asked the teen to steal something from the victim’s home.

Prosecutors argued that there was never any evidence to prove that Davies had been approached by the motorcycle gang and that the story had been fabricated to cover up his crimes.

Officers held the teens at the Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center (pictured) before they pleaded guilty and were charged with manslaughter, burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Both boys were arrested as adults and charged with manslaughter, burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm. They had been in jail since last year on $1 million bail.

Prior to their sentencing, the two pleaded guilty in September 2023 and were subsequently held without bail.

Davies said: ‘I know I have taken something so precious that can never be given back, and I will regret it forever.’

During the sentencing, the victim’s mother, Veronica McCaw, said she decided not to show her husband’s crime scene photos for fear that “he would drop dead.”

A motive for the killing is still unknown, but Davies told the court that ‘this will never happen again’.