Search for body continues

Published 12:31 am Saturday, September 3, 2011

More than a month after the arrests of Natasha Davenport and Joseph Howell and their confessions in connection to the murder of James Davenport, the search continues for a body.

According to representatives with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, the body has not been located, despite cooperation from both Natasha and Howell.

The pair offered differing accounts on where the body was dumped.

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Natasha said they threw the body off a cliff, while Howell said they threw it into a ravine.

Both, authorities say, have cooperated with the investigation, but their tips have not produced a body.

Though Davenport’s body is still missing, District Attorney Michael Jackson said previously this would not hurt his case.

“There have been situations in the past where there have been convictions without a body,” he said. “It would be nice to offer closure for the family, but it doesn’t hurt the case.”

Local and state authorities have worked together searching for the body with the use of cadaver dogs. In one weekend alone, law enforcement officers covered a 3 1-2 mile area. However, they were still unable to locate Davenport’s body.

Natasha, 29, and Howell, 39, were taken into custody July 23 in connection with the murder of Natasha’s father, 71-year-old Jimmy Davenport.

After being taken into custody, Natasha gave a statement to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department outlining the details of the crime.

Though she did not recall the exact date, Natasha said the alleged murder occurred sometime before Valentine’s Day.

Both waived the right to a preliminary hearing in August and will next appear before a Dallas County Grand Jury.