CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Law enforcement officials have testified that it took them several hours to find the body of a slain Iowa hunter after he was reported missing.

The Daily Iowegian reports that Appanoose County Deputy Jonathan Printy testified Friday in the murder trial of Ethan Davis that he was the first officer to respond in the early morning hours of Nov. 24 after 31-year-old Curtis Ross was reported missing. Printy says he and others searched a wooded area of southwestern Rathbun Lake for three to four hours before breaking to wait for daylight.

Deputy Cody Jellison found Ross’ body in a creek around 8 a.m.

Davis is charged with first-degree murder in Ross’ death. Prosecutors say Davis perched from a hilltop and used an AR-15 to shoot Ross, who was also stabbed more than two dozen times. Officials say they don’t have a motive for the killing.

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Information from: The Daily Iowegian, http://www.dailyiowegian.com