unsolved murders in west virginia unsolved murders in west virginia

Lost for decades, a report recently has been found detailing the results of polygraph exams given to 18 Charlestonians in the weeks following the still-unsolved 1953 slaying of Charleston Daily Authorities believe the three cases are connected. More information about him can be found here, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, 3 reasons you shouldnt wait to file taxes this year, Whats the newest city in the US? Besides all being shootings, little connects the eight unsolved homicides. Authorities say she has not been seen or heard from since. Shawn Steptoe, 14, was reported missing May 17, 2004 by his father, Anthony Steptoe. Petty, 48, was last seen alive on Feb. 6, 2008, while walking from her home in north Parkersburg to the Parkersburg/Wood County Public Library. So, I started to do some research into it, and I found out theres a whole lot to the story that I had never even been told. Texas Rangers Top 12 Cold Case Investigations. Real Name: Unknown Case: Suspicious Deaths Location: West Virginia Date: 1979, 1983 Details: According to an unverified source, two women were killed in Berkeley County, West Virginia in 1979 and 1983, and no trace of the events were recorded. John Brennan Crutchley is the person that I think is likely to have done it. Two men, Wiley Carr, 43, and Kelly Morris, 34, were found after the department's ShotSpotter led police to crime. Which is why Poiani keeps the story in the public eye every year around this time. There was a lot of child abductions. His body was found halfway in and halfway out of a front door. He left her home on his stepfathers motorcycle and left his phone, ID and money behind. June 1974. 24 Texas A&M over No. The 208-page book is filled with one sensational crime after another such as the West Virginia University coed murder, the disappearance of the Sodder children in a Christmas Eve fire in 1945, the slaying of Montgomery city clerk Cathy Carroll, the Rand-Bailey mystery, the fatal shooting of a popular Beckley police officer. Hargreaves is a former professional rugby player who had moved to West Virginia. Below is a list of missing persons cases in West Virginia that remain unsolved. The unsolved murder of Olive Peaney On March 1, 1895, Olive Peaney was murdered in Tontogany. You have permission to edit this article. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. He said Donald Bartz did not approve of his daughters older boyfriend and he forbid her from having a cell phone to call him. Sadly, her remains were found by hunters in November of that same year. I think its fair to say we both dont think that he did it. June 1973. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Worrell, a mother of two children, had been shot and killed. Authorities say Green is familiar with the rural areas of Wood, wort and Ritchie counties. She has multiple piercings as well as a tattoo of a sun on her right shoulder and a tattoo of a scorpion on her lower back. The exact date of her disappearance is unknown. This article was originally published by West Virginia Public Broadcasting . This source claims that one was killed and thrown from a truck in front of Corning Glass in 1979, and the . We cant ignore them and we take them all seriously.. Her Ford Explorer was discovered along Gardner Road not far from where her body was found. A friend says they saw him that day walking toward the Go-Mart in South Charleston. Nearly 150 evidentiary items were labeled. 10 Notre Dame to reach ACC finals, Taylor scores 28, leads No. The Axe Man of New Orleans. Her body was recovered Feb. 9, 2008, in a burned out building off West Virginia 31 in Waverly on a farm owned by her father, Marvin Petty. Holcomb was last seen walking near his home along Dunden Road. All Rights Reserved. Lee Bennett, a retired West Virginia State Parks employee who had spent his career at Pipestem State Park, was doing electrical work at Pinnacle Rock State Park near Bramwell on Sept. 19, 2007. Her body was later found along the St. Albans exit of I-64. 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Manchin visits Milton to discuss floodwall project, Ex-Army PVT from KY gets 45 years for plot against, Firefighter, 2 residents in hospital after Chas fire, The New StormTracker 13 VIPIR Real Time Radar, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Her vehicle was found Feb. 25, 2022 near the TNT area of Mason County with her belongings inside. Hall was last seen walking out of his Lincoln Drive home. Natasha Carter, also known as Alex was allegedly taken by her mother Susan Gail Carter, who may also be using the alias Susan Gail Carter Webb, during a custody dispute with Alexs father. On June 22, 1932, her lifeless body was found where it had been dumped on 22 Mountain, which was then called Trace Mountain. To worsen matters, her remains were mixed up at the medical examiners office in Charleston where autopsies also were performed on two young children killed in a house fire in Jackson County about a week after the fire where Petty was found. But, apparently, a lot of other state troopers didnt feel that way. Enicks may have been driving a gray Ford Taurus. She will be tried as an adult for allegedly beating her father, Donald Bartz, 56, to death with the butt of a shotgun. Q: So there was little done about safety with the hitchhiking and everything like that? He was last seen stringing lights on the barge, but was not accounted for when the barge reached its destination eight miles from the point he was last seen. According to reports, a 25-year-old Scott La Rock was shot in the neck and head as he attempted to break up an argument. Traveling at 25 mph, he was unable to stop in time and hit him. So, it all came together at almost the exact same time, and its been pretty serendipitous. DeBerry was last seen leaving the Pizza Hut in Kingwood where he worked. A visitor to McDowell County was shot and killed July 28, 2007. She also learned there is no record of him in the Department of Immigration and that he had used an alias to marry her. The second person of interest is described as a white male who would have been in his mid-20s standing approximately 59-511 with short, wavy brown hair and a stocky build, according to the flyer. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Over 50 years ago, two freshmen coeds at West Virginia University, Mared and Karen, went missing after attempting to hitchhike back to their dorm from High Street. Baker also goes by the names of Cheyenne Baker and Tiffany Cole.. According to the report, Shannon Bartz ran to a corner, picked up a shotgun and began trying to hit her father with the butt end of the gun. Beverly Christensen. If you are aware of a cold case that is not currently present on the website, please contact the investigating agency. He had been murdered - tortured and shot." Dean was 14 at the time of the murder and knew Smith, who was a lifeguard at Watoga State Park during his summer break from West Virginia University. Here are eight truly bone-chilling unsolved crimes that will have you looking over your own shoulder. His mothers pocketbook was still in the house, but she was nowhere to be found. Initially, state troopers worked to discover whether Lee had an accident on the job or if he was the victim of a crime. On December 8, 1963, a group of amateur criminals hoping to strike it rich engineered one of the most infamous kidnappings in American history. Authorities received tips about sightings of Steptoe in Mercer and McDowell counties, but the information did not lead to him. Marshall Hamilton. There was no evidence that it had actually come because of the coed murders. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? FROM HELL (2001) The Jack The Ripper case gets the big movie treatment in From Hell, a mystery horror film directed by the Hughes Brothers. That wasnt really a thing, so the police would always have to cobble together the things, but thats a whole lot less than ideal. He has not been seen since he left the group. Sines was last seen in Kingwood, but was also known to frequent the Clarksburg area. Its a case Sheriff Steve Stephens hopes to someday solve. Q: What about you, Sarah? Woods was last seen by her husband. 1982 cold case reopens after 18-year-old murder victim identified . Branham was last seen Feb. 7, 2017 and reported missing Feb. 15, 2017. On the evening of May 22, 1918, Jake and Andrew Maggio made a gruesome discovery. Shannon then took possession of the shotgun and began beating him in the head with the butt end. He was last seen around Eccles at approximately 1 a.m. the next morning. He has a tattoo of lips on the right side of his neck, a skull on his right forearm and the initials CCM and JLC on one finger. Barki said Brooke County, not unlike surrounding counties, has seen a spike in heroin use and many home invasions, burglaries and theft cases are driven by that factor. The teen left a note. Moreland left her fathers home on Oct. 23, 1987 and was last seen late that night at the former Highs gas station in Paw Paw. But despite the murders leading the company to recall 31 million bottles and to manufacturers changing packaging forever, police never found who did it. According to the NamUs website, Klomp was last seen when she was released from a facility. Authorities say her last known contact with anyone was apparently April 2, 2015. WELCH, WV (WVNS) 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2020 UPDATE: 59News has confirmed with McDowell County Prosecuting Attorney Emily Miller they reached a plea deal in a murder case. Larry McClure admitted to First Degree Murder in the death of John McGuire. What got you interested in this case? And, I dont know, I just got this idea in my head. She then laid her gun down, grabbed the gun her father had, went into the hallway and threw it down. Q: What got you interested in working on this case? Investigators have not described how she died. Unsolved cases are submitted to the Cold Case Database on a voluntary basis. Crutchley was investigated for the deaths and disappearances of 26 women in the DC/Maryland/Virginia/Pennsylvania area. ATTENTION: This feature contains previously unreleased material and information concerning each case as well as never-before-published photographs, graciousl. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. By Deirdre M. Enright. And, in reality, when we dug into it, he confessed a bunch of times, partial confessions, and changing things all the time. He went missing shortly after Lynn DeBerry and Tommy DeBerry. Few clues were available then, and today investigators are still seeking fresh information that could lead them to who murdered 39-year-old Sandra Worrell of Bluefield. Refreshing your browser will bring different cases into view or you may browse all cases. SJM: He was learning disabled, so in his mind, he had this plan to be proven that it wasnt him that killed Mared and Karen so he would be moved to another facility that was closer to where his mother lived, and it just wasnt really grounded in reality. 2023 Virginia Cold Case Database. London's most notorious serial . 1992. Barki said he is unable to comment on another homicide being investigated by Brooke County authorities. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Four men were questioned, with one held in prison for suspicion of murder and then later released two years later, the case has since gone cold and so many . I dont think that really started until the 80s. Q: Do you think you had that perspective because you were a man as opposed to a woman in the 70s? So, after we go through those suspects, then we talk about our experiences separately and then when we started working together. And, as you know, around here, that doesnt. Her cheating husband was not home at the time and saw her body through a window, before entering the home. She told police she shook the door until it came off its hinges and was able to get back into her fathers room, where she picked up his shotgun and struck him in the face with it until he stopped moving. Across the state and in Mercer, McDowell and Monroe counties, troopers started looking at unsolved murders and disappearances. So, it was just happenstance that he had been shadowing someone who had the actual files, or otherwise, it wouldve been destroyed. There was reportedly a severe flood at the time Shinn was last seen. We were kind of amazed that he got convicted because there was no evidence to speak of except his confession. 19 year old Nancy Santamero and 26 year old Vicki Durian had been hitchhiking from Welloman Iowa to Pocahontas county West Virginia to attend their first Rainbow gathering; a counter culture peace celebration. A West Ashley High School football player, Mikell McKelvey . It's been five years since the shooting death of Vienna resident Cindy Ball and many wonder why her case remains unsolved. Cook was last seen around 3 a.m. Jan. 14, 1993 near Pedros Bar outside of Bluefield. Edmunds has been diagnosed with dementia. Fleshman was last seen leaving her home heading toward Roanoke, Virginia. Pettys family reported her missing a few days earlier on Feb. 6. Two cold case murders in Maryland and Virginia that took place about 15 years apart have been solved after an already incarcerated man confessed to both, according to police in Maryland. His itinerary had said the bus would travel through Cambridge, Ohio, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Baltimore before arriving in DC. He said the murder cases are putting a strain on his office. document.getElementById( "ak_js_6" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Across the state and in Mercer, McDowell and Monroe counties,. SJM: Its such a weird story because it wasnt planned at all, but my husband, when he was my fiance, he was going to Spain for two weeks. Hotel guest Danny Casolaro was lying dead in a tub of bloody water. This website was developed to assist Virginia State Police investigators and local law enforcement in soliciting tips on unsolved cases throughout the Commonwealth. It is just a matter of timing.. His father last saw him on Aug. 20, 2018 on Cherry Fork Road in Montrose in Randolph County leaving on the motorcycle with his girlfriend Jamie Deshayes. A suspect vehicle was later found. Police are trying to locate 35-year-old Jammie Castillo, who is described as a girlfriend to the victim, Wesley Plants, 51, of Sanders Drive. It's rather complicated too, since four people were charged at different times with the murder - but none were found guilty. Some examples of unsolved child murders you can learn about in our fully visualized case files include the 1998 kidnapping and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 1997 murder of Georgia Lee Moses, the 2017 double-murder of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German, and the 1960 murder of Nancy Eagleson. Gibbons has a a burn scar on his stomach and a scar from a skin graft on his legs and hips. That was his punishment. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. She was supposed to meet a relative to pick up money, but never called to tell them where to meet her. A Princeton resident saw him when emerging from a fog bank during those early morning hours. Geoffrey and S. James McLaughlin encourage folks to take a look at jewelry found in possession of John Brennan Crutchley to see if they look familiar. Mayle was last seen at the Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, West Virginia around 4:30 p.m. Jan 8, 2014. We want justice, she was not only a great mother and sister she was the glue that held the family together, Key said. Dental records showed that it belonged to Steptoe. The vehicle was found at a Loves Truck Stop in Conneaut, Ohio on Feb. 8, 2015, where employees said it had been for about three or four days. They interviewed more than 100 people. According to the flyer, Sharp had gunshot wounds on her head and the base of her neck when she was found. According to police, her mother went to work on Aug. 20, 2019 and Cochran was nowhere to be found when she returned home, but all of her belongings were still there. . Troopers believe he may have traveled to Fayette County. Pugh was last seen in a black two-door vehicle with an older white male. GF: Yeah, so you cant go anywhere in West Virginia without being close to a stream and woods. We have those in PDF form, and you can see what the magazines printed versus what Clawson said in his confession and what was wrong with what was printed that he was regurgitating in his confessions. Duke allegedly gave his neighbor a set of car keys saying he wouldnt need them anymore and walked away. CASE DETAILS. Donald Bartz then locked the bedroom door and leaned against it to prevent her from getting back into his bedroom. Its an incredibly heinous crime that doesnt appear to have any rational motive to it, Barki said. She had been living in Friendly, but also had ties to Weirton and Stubenville, Ohio. For some reason, he thought that was the plan. GF: We were looking specifically for two necklaces, one of Mareds necklaces with a religious medallion, and then Karen had a necklace with a class ring dangling on it, and those were both missing. Authorities say he would regularly walk to his job. Adkins has not been seen since and no trace of him has been found. January 1975. Vance was last seen in the 1000 block of Washington Avenue around 5 p.m. March 27, 2010. Although retired, Lee worked part time for the state when the need arose. 8am on the rainy morning of Saturday March 14th 1981 Secretary Wanda Davidson arrived for work at the offices of Boone-Meadows & Asso. Their dying brother and his already-dead wife had been brutally butchered with an axe. Foreman of the West Virginia State Police detachment near Princeton responded to a call at the Little General Store on Oakvale Road. Local police departments and county sheriffs departments also continue to seek new leads in their cold case investigations. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Updated: Oct 29, 2021 / 12:20 PM EDT PUTNAM COUNTY, WV (WOWK) - The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is reopening a murder cold case from 35 years ago. Bleaney was last seen in the summer of 1975, he was supposed to appear in court that September but never appeared. Les Skinner said efforts to locate Castillo have been unsuccessful as her mother has reported her missing to authorities in Burlington, Iowa, where she had been living. He was last seen in the Cheat Lake area. Police were on it, but I dont know what they were doing about it, but there was just a lot of bad people doing bad things that I wasnt aware of. Unsolved Homicide Victim Fame Cooper went missing in July of 1990. New DNA testing may ID severed head found at Lake Houston. It is believed Spangler may have been missing for three to four weeks before he was reported missing. Wilson sentenced Barnhart to 50 years in prison after taking guilty pleas on one count of second degree murder and two counts of wanton endangerment. He had been shot three times. Category:West Virginia | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom in: United States West Virginia Category page Edit This Category is reserved for Unsolved Mysteries cases that have occurred in West Virginia. WELLSBURG Joseph Barki is carrying a full plate of murder cases into his third year as Brooke County prosecutor. He was last seen walking up to an apartment building on Rhea Terrace, but has not been seen or heard from since. Opinion. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Q: Given that it happened so long ago, was it difficult finding information on this case? She was found behind the store's counter. He had embarked on his Appalachian journey as a path to self-discovery and finding himself as well as visiting the Civil War battlefields. In the daylight hours back in November 2000, Nancy was beaten and shot to death, while her 9 month old baby was in the room next to hers. Anyone with information about the Petty case is encouraged to call the department, Stephens said. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Sigmon-Palmer was last seen with a younger male companion at. Authorities say she has a 2-inch scar in the shape of a V on the front of her right shin. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Montana has one of the lowest murder rates in the Union. Friends and family call her by the name Cherice.. GF: Plus, the general public had no idea what the police were doing because thats all happening out of sight, and it wasnt really being reported that much. The reason why you find the wrongfully convicted in my database is simple: when the exonerated is taken out of the . The site displays unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and unidentified remains. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. Then in early March 2005, an East Street resident found an unusual object. SJM: Personally, I find the letters that came from Cumberland, Maryland that were signed with a triangleI find that really fascinating. He has a tattoo of a cross on his inner left forearm and his right arm is shorter than his left arm. There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Barki, who took over as the countys chief law enforcement officer in January 2012 after serving for 11 years as an assistant prosecutor, said Brooke County is experiencing an unprecedented string of homicides-including five, possibly six, that have yet to come to trial. Grover Vance of Huntington - Last seen March 27, 2010 at 75 years old. Authorities say she had lived with her parents in Hampshire County at the time of her disappearance, and would often come and go, so some time passed before she was reported missing. A Facebook was established, too, Justice for Judith Lynn Petty. Kenny Poston,. The sheriffs office says two persons of interest in the 1986 Linda Sharp murder case were never identified. Box 7200, Leesburg, VA 20177 He had an involvement in the case. I remembered when my parents had talked about Mared and Karen, and I wanted to look into it because it just seemed so surreal. Mahan left his home in Soak Creek around 10:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 2020, in his maroon 2009 Subaru Forester. "This one is interesting because it's still unsolved," Pratt said. Windley was last seen in Kanawha City behind the Lowes along the Kanawha River. Like every other state in the country, WV has its own share of violent crimes, including murders and missing persons believed to be dead, that date back as far as this states birth in 1863. We skipped school. Friends of his were having a wedding. Years have gone by, but the family remembers Cantrell every day, said her sister, Annette Key, a West Virginia native now living in Ashboro, N.C. Shes missed dearly every day and theres not a day goes by that we dont think of her, not a day that theres not a tear shed for her, Key said. Frank Sinatra, Jr., Kidnapping. As he moved toward her she turned on the drill and pointed it toward his face. Cases are displayed at random to ensure all victims are publicized equally. Law enforcement witnessed Kincaid jump from the 31st Street Bridge, but no sign of him or his body were ever found. . A West Virginia Murder Who killed Nell Rand and E. R. Bailey? SJM: Yeah, its definitely more difficult. Many people thought they knew him; he was a local handyman - described as friendly by his neighbors and local police. Thats why her son grew concerned about his mothers well-being after not hearing from her in more than a week. This list includes the missing persons name linked to more details, often including a photo and what agency to contact with information, on an official police or government website. If you have information on any of these unsolved homicide cases, you are asked to contact CCHU using one of the following methods: Fill out the tip sheet (gives you the option to remain anonymous), or Send an email to cchu@vbgov.com, or Call the Crime Solvers Tip Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887). A brief summary of each case is provided. The murders captivated the region for decades. Then when the letters came, they said to look 25 miles south of Morgantown, so the state troopers drove the direction and they ended up in downtown Grafton, and they said, Well, this isnt it. They drove another mile and said that there was nothing there. He was scheduled to arrive at a school in Prince William County, Virginia at 1 p.m. Sept. 9, for photography services, but never arrived there or at his employers office. The case started at 7 a.m. on Jan 29, 1989, when Trooper K.J. The Kanawha County Sheriffs Office works unsolved missing person and homicide cases to conclusion. A flyer depicting the two persons of interest was generated at the time of the case. Authorities say Welch may have headed toward Valley Head, West Virginia. Copyright News and Sentinel | https://www.newsandsentinel.com | 519 Juliana St., Parkersburg, WV 26101 | 304-485-1891, For every year that goes by, its another downer,, I hope he gets a conscience this year to bring peace to himself and peace to his family,, If theres a lead, well follow up on it,. Results: 13 Record (s) Found. Other pending murder cases in the county are: Christopher Devin Kinker, 21, of Follansbee is facing second-degree murder and child abuse charges after he allegedly killed his seven-week-old son. Aigeltinger was last seen at a Sheetz in Manassas Park, Virginia. Q: Anything else that you would like to add? Winds light and variable. The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This Small West Virginia Town Is Truly Frightening No one in Clarksburg knew he was a serial killer and arsonist. An interesting angle presented during the grand jury hearing was. Tamperproof seals exist because of a 1982 spree, in which someone slipped cyanide into stores' Tylenol bottles, killing seven. West Virginia State Police say her friends and family say she had been consuming alcoholic beverages with them when a verbal argument reportedly ensued. She was dropped off at home by a sibling, but took off before their other sibling arrived. He had been stabbed 53 times. And there was, of course, the prosecutor in Morgantown, so Clawson was convicted, but Richard was still sure that he didnt do it. On Sept. 20, 2007, authorities found the man near the picnic table area at the state park, where his body had been moved after a vicious assault. There was a lot of people doing bad things, especially to women in Morgantown. You need to find them quickly. And I think, what, four letters in total? He was living at 213 Union Street, and was last seen on May 17 between 5 and 6 p.m., said the investigator at the time, retired Lt. Tom Helton of the Bluefield Police Department. 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