It's interesting that seemingly in most of the stills from the discovery of David, his eyes are open, yet in that one they're closed. I wonder which it actually was in the film?
The story I've always heard is that all the "Hanging David" material was originally in the film and was actually shown during a preview screening. But the feedback from the audience to David hanging himself was so negative (many felt kids would try to recreate the scene themselves) that the decision was made to cut practically all of it so that it seems Maggie looks for David but doesn't ever come across him until the scene in which he locks her in a room at the Old House. Boo-hiss!!
But we can't do anything about it now... Though, of course, every bit of blood and gore was deemed perfectly fine for kids, with any younger than 13 simply having to ask their parents' permission to see the film. Though, honestly, how many theaters really policed that?