I get that same feeling. The Hierophant's bond is a very hard one to break, especially when a break isn't willingly sought (re: death). He may need a lot more time to truly move beyond it, if he ever does at all.
Also, while deception isn't normally in this card on its own and I didn't get that particular vibe, myself, PAMUYA raises a valid point: You might want to consider how well you really know, or don't know, this man and his life/past -- as well as any suspect cards that may or may not be appearing in your readings on him... I.e., if things seem to lean in a deceptively hidden direction, especially if they did all along/well before he disappeared, I'd wonder if this man may actually still have a wife (perhaps going "poof" because he was found out or she was just starting to catch on).