MOUNT VERNON — The investigation into the murder of Jean Davis in Bladensburg last December is ongoing and still very important to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, according to Knox County Sheriff David Barber.
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“It’s still ongoing,” said Barber. “We’re still waiting on some results from BCI on some forensic evidence.”
Barber would not elaborate on the nature of that evidence.
“[Detective Sgt.] Roger Brown is the lead investigator in the case,” Barber said. “Although it’s not the only case he is handling, it is his top priority.”
Barber encouraged anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office. He declined to comment as to whether he was considering offering a reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the murderer or murderers.
The shooting of Nicholas E. Wallace on Divan Road last November is another high priority case for the sheriff’s office, Barber said.
“It’s probably going to the grand jury next month,” said Barber. “At least one of the victims is going to be presented to the grand jury for drug trafficking. When I was processing the scene, I came across a substantial amount of marijuana. One alleged victim is a convicted drug dealer and he also had a firearm in the residence, which is a violation also. It’s a weapons under disability charge.
“They are being totally uncooperative in the matter,” Barber continued. “Right now we are waiting for some fingerprint evidence to come back to see if anybody’s fingerprints are on the packages of marijuana to connect them with the drugs or anything else.”
Barber said the incident was a drug-related shooting that was a result of a drug operation being run out of a rental property.
Barber said there is a misconception among some people that this incident was related to the Davis murder.
“This [Divan Road shooting] didn’t have anything to do with any of the other crimes in the area,” Barber said. “And one of the things it’s done is it has muddied the waters in the Jean Davis homicide. When the detectives are talking to informants, [the informants] are mixing the two incidents up. And the detectives are running around in circles. A lot of the tips they’re getting and a lot of the informants they have out on the street are mixing the two cases up. Someone might say so-and-so stole that truck when he shot the drug dealer. But that’s not quite it.”
Barber said anyone with information on the Davis case or any other case should call the sheriff’s toll-free tip line at (888) 363-8477, or the detective division at 393-6800.
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