MANSFIELD — U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott looked around Monday at all of the law enforcement officers gathered together to share the news that the body of a missing Shelby woman had been found.
“Probably the best thing the suspect did for us was to boast how her body would never be found. You don’t know the determination of all the (law enforcement) people standing back there,” Elliott said Monday afternoon during a press conference at the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The body of Melinda Kay Davis, 33, of Shelby, was last seen Feb. 25, driving her black 2013 Volkswagen Jetta near Shelby High School. Her body was found Sunday evening about 78 miles away by Columbus police in the southwest suburb of Galloway.
“A sad day for all of us today,” Elliott said. “She’ll be in our thoughts and in our prayers.
“Whenever you have someone that is missing, that is always going to motivate us. Their teamwork is outstanding. They didn’t sleep for however long it’s been and they worked through this thing and I am very proud of them.”
The suspect in the case, her ex-boyfriend, John Henry Mack, 43, who lives just south of Mansfield, remained in the Richland County Jail on Monday, charged with kidnapping and receiving stolen property on an unrelated matter.
Mack has been in jail since his arrest in Mansfield on March 4. Authorities believe she was going to Mack’s house just south of Mansfield when she disappeared.
Those charges against Mack now will likely change, according to Richland County Prosecutor Gary Bishop, who thanked the multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies who worked on the case and in the search.
“This was amazing hard work. It was everything from technology to door-walking and foot-pounding. Old-fashioned work combined with new technology,” Bishop said. “This case is only just beginning. I want to stress the investigation is not concluded. The people who have been working so hard will continue to do that hard work and get this put together for my office to review.
Press conference: Melinda Davis body found in Columbus
“Obviously, the charges and the number of charges will be determined at a later date once this investigation is fully completed and submitted to us.”
Sheldon said agencies assisting in the case have been the Shelby Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation, Ontario Police Department, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Richland County Coroner’s Office, Mansfield Police Department, Columbus Police Department and Richland County Children Services.
Authorities searched for Davis since she disappeared and got a phone call from Columbus police Sunday at 6:15 p.m., saying they had located her car in Galloway.
Bishop said Columbus Police got a tip from a resident in the area about the car and acted on it.
Two of Mack’s relatives have been charged with obstruction of justice related to his arrest. Bishop said they will continue to go through the legal process.
“It’s too early to determine if other people will be involved,” Bishop said.
The victim’s body was taken to Montgomery County for autopsy. The prosecutor declined to discuss a motive for the killing, adding law enforcement officers found blood in Mack’s home that led the warrant for his arrest.
