Anonymous tip leads to discovery of missing man’s body in shallow grave

A Bethune man who was reported missing in late December has been found dead, and officials are investigating it as a murder.

Kershaw County deputies received an anonymous tip and was able to locate the body of Adam Ray Davis Wednesday in another county, according to a news release from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office.

A cadaver dog helped deputies locate Davis’ body in a shallow grave in a wooded area of Lee County, the release stated.

SLED’s forensic team processed the scene Friday and identified the body as Davis’.

An autopsy was performed on Davis Friday morning.

Sheriff Jim Matthews said based on preliminary information from the autopsy, the case is now a murder investigation.

Davis, 35, was last seen Dec. 29 at a friend’s home in Bethune. Officials did not know if he was picked up or walked from that location. His vehicle was left at a business in Bethune.

Davis’ case was initially declared a missing person case but over time it turned into a recovery operation, according to the release.

This story was originally published March 10, 2017 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Anonymous tip leads to discovery of missing man’s body in shallow grave."