Boyfriend charged with murder of pregnant woman

CANTON, Ohio -- The mother of a pregnant woman who vanished weeks before her delivery date prayed that her daughter's boyfriend wasn't involved, but suspected he was.

Even Bobby Cutts Jr. understood the suspicion around himself. A policeman in this northeast Ohio city married to another woman, he had said he had nothing to do with Jessie Davis' disappearance, but knew that when bad things happen to women, husbands or significant others are often involved.

By the time authorities found a body they believe to be Davis' on Saturday, they concluded the awful pattern had been repeated. Cutts was arrested and is to be arraigned Monday on charges of killing Davis, 26, and their unborn daughter, whose due date had been July 3.

The body was found at the southeast edge of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 25 miles north of her home, said Roger Riggins, an investigator with the medical examiner's office in Summit County, where the body was discovered.

Television helicopter news footage showed investigators riding off-road vehicles to reach an area heavily covered with trees and brush. It also showed authorities carrying a body bag on a stretcher and loading it into a white van.

Thousands of volunteers had searched for Davis over several days in the rural area of northeastern Ohio where she lived. Cutts joined volunteers in an earlier search.

Davis' family declined to comment Saturday, but on Friday her mother said Friday she considered Cutts a suspect. "I still pray that it's not him," Patricia Porter told NBC's "Today" show.

Porter reported her daughter missing June 15. She found Davis' 2-year-old son home alone at her daughter's Lake Township home, which was in disarray. A bed comforter and Davis' cell phone were missing. Items from her purse were scattered, bedroom furniture was toppled and bleach had been spilled on the floor.

Investigators said the toddler told them "Mommy was crying. Mommy broke the table. Mommy's in rug."

Authorities repeatedly questioned Cutts, 30, and searched his home during the investigation.

Stark County Chief Deputy Rick Perez said the case was still being investigated. He would not comment on whether there were any other suspects.

Cutts is the father of Davis' son, and her family says he also is the father of the unborn child. He has said he and his wife are separated and that she knew about the affair with Davis.

Cutts has been on paid administrative leave from his job.

"There is no denying that this has resulted in giving a black eye in the opinion of the local community as well as the opinion of the rest of the nation," Police Chief Dean McKimm said of the arrest of a police officer.

Telephone messages seeking comment on the arrest were left at the office of Cutts' lawyer, Bradley Iams.

Rick Pitinii, Porter's attorney, said Davis' family had no comment.

"They have gone through an absolute roller coaster of emotions," he said. "I've seen them laugh, cry, be angry -- everything you can imagine. ... It's tough."

"They need to be together, and they need to be alone, and they need to grieve."

Tim Miller, director of Texas EquuSearch, an internationally active search group that organized the volunteer effort, said Porter and the rest of Davis' family were called together and told about the body in late afternoon.

"A lot of the community stopped their lives to looked for Jessie and that meant so much to her and the entire family that they knew they were not alone in this," he said.