— The man accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife at his home in Cary made an initial court appearance on Friday.

Michael Curtis Sauls, 59, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Patsy Wood Sauls at her home at 2201 Piney Plains Road. He was being held at the Wake County Jail Friday without bond.

He was ordered to return next month to court, where he will be represented by the public defender's office. Sauls could face the death penalty, the judge said Friday.

The killing of Patsy Sauls marks the first homicide in the Town of Cary for 2019.

A town official said Friday that Cary has had 14 homicides since 2014, and four them involved domestic disputes.

The couple filed for divorce in Jones County in January, and it was finalized in March, according to court records.

Police were called around 11:45 a.m. to the couple's home.

When they arrived, they found Patsy Sauls suffering from a gunshot wound. She was rushed to WakeMed in Cary where she died from her injuries. Michael Sauls was still at the scene and was taken into custody without incident.

Deanna Hawks, a spokeswoman for Cary Public Safety, said there was no threat to the community. The home is located next door to the Little Treasures Daycare center. Officials there said the daycare was not put under lockdown.