Murdered Queer Journalist Josh Kruger Accused of Blackmail, Drug Use by Suspect's Family

The family of the 19-year-old man accused of shooting queer Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger seven times claims that he did so because he was being blackmailed, according to the Daily Mail.

The family of suspect Robert Davis "has claimed the duo had a sexual relationship and the teen was being blackmailed over 'disturbing' videos."

Kruger, 39, was shot in his townhouse, but struggled to get to the street, where he collapsed and died. Days after the murder, Davis was identified as the suspected shooter. He remains on the run.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports these "assertions by Davis' mother and older brother add troubling new complexities to a killing that has garnered national attention. Their account, they said, is drawn from recent conversations with Davis, and from the years of watching his life unravel as he tried to keep the relationship and his drug addiction hidden."

Kruger's family and friends helped lead police to Davis. Police said that Kruger "was trying to help [Davis] get through life."

The Inquirer adds that "Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said the contents of Kruger's phone are part of the investigation as detectives seek to learn more about why he may have been killed. But critical details of what happened, he said, lie with Davis, who remains at-large."

"I think he could answer a lot of questions if he comes into custody and surrenders," Vanore said. "It might help us put all this together."

On Friday hours after police burst into her South Philly home, Damica Davis said her son called her. She urged him to turn himself in. Before the call ended, he tried to explain the situation, though did not admit to shooting Kruger. "He was scared," she said. "He said '... He (Kruger) wanted me to do some stuff I didn't want to do and if I didn't do it, he said he was going to blackmail me.'"

Davis and her older son Jaylin Reason also told the Inquirer that Robert Davis suffered from mental health issues from a young age. He had anger issues in school, Davis claimed, and often got into fights. Things intensified when he turned 15 and began sneaking out in the night and doing drugs. Davis and Reason said Robert told them he was seeing an "older white woman" he met online who "worked for the government."

"They frequently saw the name 'Josh' pop up in messages on his phone, they said, and when they asked who Josh was, Davis told them it was the woman's brother, who was gay," reports the Inquirer.

"It was only later, in their call with him Friday, they said, that Davis told them he had been seeing Kruger all along."

Kruger worked for the city, including a stint at the Office of Homeless Services, from 2015 to 2020. It is a timeline that matches the family's account of Robert seeing a woman who worked in the government. "And they'd followed Davis to Kruger's block on Watkins Street before, they said, desperate to find out where he was going and getting drugs," adds the Inquirer. "They trailed behind and watched as he turned onto Watkins Street, but then couldn't figure out which house he was going into, they said."

"We've only had pieces of everything. We could never put the pieces together, and now everything is coming out and we see what's going on."

They also told the Inquirer, Robert often came home with expensive gifts whom he said were from the woman. They said he often came home under influence and found needles, pills, and other drug paraphernalia in his pockets, and believe he became addicted to meth.

Stints in rehab didn't work, Davis said, and his drug use escalated. Robert found it difficult to hold a job. He was arrested in August for having broken into the city's Navy Yard. Police said he was acting erratically, but charges were dropped when the security guard did not show up at the court appearance.

Kruger was murdered early in the morning of Monday, October 7. Davis and Reason told the Inquirer that Robert was home that week "behaving like his normal self." The brothers had words early on Friday morning as to why Robert was out so late. Then at about 6am the police arrived with a warrant for Robert's arrest, but he was gone. "Reason and his mother said they don't know where he's hiding," reported the Inquirer.

"Damica Davis said that if her son did kill Kruger, there's no excuse. But she, too, wants answers."

"It's tragic what happened," she said. "But I feel like my son is a victim in this, as well."

"Kruger, for his part, was transparent about the struggles in his own life. He has said he was homeless for years and was addicted to crystal meth and used intravenous drugs. While on the streets, he wrote in 2017, he relied on sex work, his religion, and the kindness of others to survive," added The Inquirer.

He became sober in 2013 and began a career as journalist. In 2015 he was hired by the city where for five years he oversaw the mayor's social media platforms, and acted as spokesperson for the city's Office of Homeless Services.

"He returned to writing in 2021 and for various outlets including The Inquirer, he typically wrote about the issues that intersected with his life, including living as a gay man with HIV, addiction and harm reduction, and city and state politics. He became known for his strong positions and activity on social media, and grew a following," reported the Inquirer.

But police add meth was found in his bedroom. "Still," the Inquirer concluded, "news of his death left many shocked and devastated. City and state leaders shared statements celebrating his life and support for vulnerable communities."