The body of a woman who had been missing since her husband was found dead in their Dittmer home has been recovered, Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak announced today, Sept. 9.
Stacy Jay-Malcom, 56, was found Sept. 7 on private property in a wooded area in the 8900 block of Hwy. WW in Dittmer. The owner of that private property found the body and contacted the Sheriff’s Office, which been searching for Jay-Malcom since finding her husband, Robert Malcom, 60, dead on Aug. 30.
Marshak said Robert Malcom was shot. However, he said today that the Regional Medical Examiner Office had not determined exactly what caused Robert Malcom’s death.
The Medical Examiner Office identified Jay-Malcom’s body today. Her cause of death had not been determined, but the Sheriff’s Office reported there were no signs of trauma and evidence suggests she possibly died from a drug overdose.
Marshak also said investigators believe Jay-Malcom was responsible for Robert Malcom’s death, although the Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the apparent homicide.
He said the Sheriff’s Office believes Robert Malcom’s apparent homicide was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. As of today, investigators are not seeking any other people of interest in the case.
Robert Malcom was found dead at about 4 p.m. Aug. 30 in a home in the 8000 block of Canyon Lane in Dittmer. The Sheriff’s Office had been contacted earlier that day by someone who was trying to reach Robert Malcom, and the person asked deputies to conduct a wellness check at the home, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell previously said.
Robert Malcom
Deputies went to the home at about 1:45 p.m. Aug. 30, but they found no evidence that would have led them to force entry into the house, Bissell said
The person who had contacted the Sheriff’s Office went to the home and was able to get inside after the deputies had left. Bissell said that person found Robert Malcom’s body and called the Sheriff’s Office at about 4 p.m. that same day.
When Jay-Malcom could not be located, the Sheriffs’ Office partnered with area agencies to search for her, using drones, helicopters and police dogs. Investigators also executed 12 search warrants to search properties and gather digital evidence, Marshak said.
He said investigators considered multiple reasons to explain why Jay-Malcom could not be located, which included her hiding from authorities.