Allen, MD: MISSING TEACHER: Dead husband of missing Parkside teacher primary suspect

Sep 8, 2011

ALLEN — Police say 58-year-old Jesse Davis, who died Wednesday night, was the main suspect in the disappearance of his wife, a Wicomico County teacher.

The body of Jesse Davis, 58, was found at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in his Allen home, according to Sheriff Mike Lewis.

Jesse Davis had been in close contact with the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation regarding the disappearance of his wife, Alice Elizabeth Davis, a 55-year-old Parkside High School teacher, who he reported missing.

Law enforcement officers located Jesse Davis' body in a recliner inside the living room of his home; he had lacerations to his left arm.

Police entered the Davis home on Allen Road as part of the investigation into the disappearance of his wife Alice.

The search for Alice Davis escalated into a criminal investigation after police executed a search warrant on her vehicle and home, according to authorities on Wednesday.

Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.

"We will never surrender hope," Lewis said. "We're very hopeful to bring some resolution to the family."

After executing a search warrant on Davis' home in Allen and her car, a blue Honda Fit, police have collected evidence that is being analyzed at the Maryland State Police crime lab in Reisterstown.

Lewis declined to identify or give additional information on the items that were collected.

No suspects have been detained by police or charged at this time in the disappearance of Davis.

"We are not ruling anyone out at this point," Lewis said.

WBI investigators, with the assistance of Maryland Natural Resources Police, have dedicated at least 15 detectives to the probe who are utilizing bloodhounds, cadaver dogs and a helicopter to aid in the search, which is concentrated in the northern Somerset County and southern Wicomico County areas.

The air search, in conjunction with ground searches, is expected to continue today.

Police are asking residents in those areas who have ATVs and horses to help investigators by searching their residential property.