Authorities in southern West Virginia are searching for a woman who is suspected in the fatal shooting of her husband and the abduction of their young child, police said.
"Our concern right now is for the baby," Chief Deputy James Smith of the Mingo County Sheriff's Department told The Huffington Post.
According to Smith, a neighbor found the body of David Matthew Clark Tuesday afternoon inside his home in the Spice Branch area of Mingo County, about 80 miles southwest of Charleston. An examination of Clark's body revealed he had been shot twice, but police won't comment on the location of the wounds or the caliber of the weapon used to shoot him.
Clark's wife, 32-year-old Crystal Seigler Clark, and his daughter, 13-month-old Chloe Clark, were not inside the home. Police have since obtained a felony warrant charging the mother with murder.
Smith said the murder charge is a result of the "investigation and evidence we've got," but declined to elaborate. He also would not explain a statement in the Amber Alert, an emergency abducted child notification system, which said Crystal Clark "has threatened to harm the child."
David Clark owned a computer store in downtown Williamson that had recently closed. According to police, he and his wife were having marital problems and may have been in the process of separating. Smith said authorities have yet to find any indication that the couple had been involved in any previous domestic disputes.
The firearm used in Clark's slaying was not found at the scene of the crime. As a result, authorities warn that Crystal Clark should be considered armed and dangerous. She was last seen driving a silver 2000 Plymouth Voyager minivan with North Carolina tags. The vehicle, which is registered in David Clark's name, has the license plate number ABM2212.
Authorities initially suspected that Clark, who was born and raised in West Virginia, might head to Tennessee or North Carolina, where she has family. But, according to Smith, she has yet to turn up in those states.
"We've got nothing on her," he said. "Everything's turning up blank right now."
Crystal Clark's grandfather, the Rev. Gary Starr, told the Associated Press that relatives have no idea where she is and that they last heard from her on Sunday. Starr also said he was unaware of any family problems.
The reverend said he only has one message for his granddaughter: "Just to come on home," he told the AP.
Clark is described as a white female, 5 feet and 7 inches tall, 127 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Chloe is 28 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Mingo County Sheriff's Department at 304-235-0300.