Missing Teacher Search Continues

SALISBURY -- The search for a popular Wicomico County teacher reported missing by her husband last Sunday continued across the Lower Shore late yesterday after her spouse was discovered deceased in their home on Wednesday night, the victim of an apparent suicide.

Alice Elizabeth Davis, 56, a Parkside High teacher for 28 years, was reported missing by her husband, Jesse Davis, 58, last Sunday evening. Jesse Davis told police Alice Davis had gone shopping at Wal-Mart in Fruitland on Sunday. Police later found Davis’ blue Honda Fit hatchback in a parking lot adjacent to the Fruitland Wal-Mart and recovered her purse and cell phone, but the English teacher and sister of former Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman was nowhere to be found.

Wicomico Bureau of Investigation (WBI) detectives questioned her husband, Jesse Davis, all week about her disappearance and possible whereabouts, and each time the story was a little different. According to reports, Jesse Davis had gaps in his memory about the events leading up to his wife’s disappearance and the discovery of her vehicle and personal belongings in a parking lot in Fruitland.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference announcing foul play was suspected in her disappearance and the investigation was now considered criminal in nature. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis stopped short of naming any suspects in the disappearance, but it became apparent Jesse Davis had become more than just a person of interest.

A few hours later on Wednesday night, WBI detectives returned to the Davis home on Allen Rd. and discovered evidence suggesting something was amiss. After securing the residence, police found Jesse Davis dead in the living room with self-inflicted lacerations to his left arm, the victim of an apparent suicide, according to Lewis.

According to reports, Jesse Davis left no suicide note or any indication of his missing wife’s whereabouts. Lewis said during the press conference Jesse Davis was local law enforcement’s prime suspect because of his apparent deception during the investigation prior to his death.

Meanwhile, the search for Davis continued yesterday. WBI detectives, with the support of allied law enforcement agencies including the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) continued to search for Alice Davis throughout Wicomico and Somerset counties late yesterday on the ground and air.