The search for missing Maryland school teacher Alice Davis took an unexpected turn last night, when authorities found her husband dead inside their home.
The body of Jesse Davis, a 58-year-old taxidermist, was found in the living room of the couple's home in Allen at 8:30 p.m. last night, according to the Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis.
"We had his home under surveillance because he was a suspect in this investigation," Lewis told The Huffington Post. "A vehicle pulled up into the yard [and] two occupants entered the rear of the home. Moments later they ran out of the home and hollered there was blood all over the house."
A cause of death has not yet been released but Davis' death does appear to be a suicide, according to the sheriff.
"He died from what appears to be self-inflicted razor wounds to his left arm -- he severed his artery," Lewis said.
The discovery was made not long after authorities had executed a search warrant on the Davis home in regard to the unsolved disappearance of Alice Davis.
A 55-year-old English teacher at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Alice Davis was last seen at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. According to her husband, she left their Allen home to go shopping at a Walmart in nearby Fruitland, Md.
ALICE DAVIS CASE PHOTOS (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)
Alice Elizabeth Davis
When Davis failed to return home by 8 p.m. Monday, her husband contacted police and reported her missing. During a search of the shopping center property, investigators spotted Davis's blue Honda hatchback parked across the street in a Big Lots parking lot.
According to Lewis, evidence taken from the family's home and their vehicle is being analyzed by the Maryland State Police crime lab in Reisterstown.
For now, Lewis said Jesse Davis is the only suspect in his wife's disappearance. In regard to a possible motive, Lewis said, "We do [know what it is] but we are not going to release it at this time."
Lewis added: "We are conducting extensive ground searches again today [for Alice Davis]. We are hopeful that we will locate her -- hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours."
Alice Davis is described as a white female, 5' 9" tall, 175 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with images of cats on the front, blue shorts and sandals. Anyone with information is asked to call the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office at 410-548-4891.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
