unsolved murders in west virginia

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. According to court documents, police began an investigation after the child was pronounced dead on Dec. 5 at Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital. According to the flyer, Sharp had gunshot wounds on her head and the base of her neck when she was found. Poiani prays guilt overtakes the person or people involved and they turn themselves in to ease their conscience. He is scheduled to return at 10:45 a.m. Jan 26. He had been shot three times. GF: I shadowed a state trooper, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hall, back in 2006 to 2009 or 2010, and he was investigating the case. They would give him Sodium Pentothal, and theyd prove that he didnt do it. His vehicle was found in a Go-Mart parking lot two days later. She allegedly told investigators that her father said, stop, youre killing me loudly as he dug his fingernails into her arms. But despite the murders leading the company to recall 31 million bottles and to manufacturers changing packaging forever, police never found who did it. Still no charges have been filed in the 2004 disappearance of Barbara Jean Flake of McDowell County. Q: What about you, Sarah? Seifs father allegedly took him to his home country of Yemen for a two-week visit, but never returned. It depends, WV bill requires high schoolers take personal finance, 2 Grafton women charged with 128 counts of animal, IRS on alert after scam tells people to commit tax, Heritage Christians Dr. Seuss week comes to a close, Business at Breakfast series begins in Harrison County, Former NBA star visits kids at WVU Medicine Childrens, Celebrate National Mulled Wine Day with this recipe, People in Md., W.Va. find mysterious dust on cars,, Matthews: Senior day has more meaning at WVU, Study ranks West Virginia last in education, UPDATE: Boyfriend of Weston woman charged with neglect, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Jefferies was last seen by his mother on Aug. 17, 2018, three days before his disappearance. He said the murder cases are putting a strain on his office. 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. Unsolved Homicide Victim Fame Cooper went missing in July of 1990. DeMarino left his mothers home in Spencer where he had been staying at approximately 10:30 p.m. Jan. 30, 2019 and drove her 2015 silver Ford Escape to Mikes Bar and Grill in Parkersburg. Cases are displayed at random to ensure all victims are publicized equally. We had two in the past 13 years, and now we have five at the same time, he said. I dont think that really started until the 80s. In the summer of 1991, a housekeeper at the Martinsburg, West Virginia, Sheraton hotel opened Room 517 to clean it. The flyer said the men allegedly hotwired a 1985 Autocar with a double cab and step-in fully loaded with a Younger Brothers decal on the door that was stolen approximately 15 miles from the area where Sharp was found, or they could have also been driving a 1973-1974 red Cadillac with a white vinyl top. Contact Anne Elgin at aelgin@bdtonline.com. 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. January 1975. As the year 2014 begins, law enforcement agencies in both Virginias continue to investigate unsolved crimes that happened in the past year, and some dating back 30 years. Court documents reveal a vehicle matching the description of Zuccaros was seen in the vicinity of Pratz home near the time of his death and shell casings found near Pratz belonged to a type of pistol owned by Zuccaro. . In Virginia, murder indictments were handed down post-haste for both Dulings. Dental records showed that it belonged to Steptoe. When police found the pair, they were decapitated, and their murderer has never been found. Ferbers vehicle, purse and belongings were found in Morgantown. He then allegedly threw her on the bed and when he let her up she hit him in the face with the drill. Metheny was last seen dropping her children off at a daycare in the vicinity of the 3000 block of Dupont Avenue in Belle. Authorities say Zoller lives in his car and doesnt stay in one place long, but he hasnt been heard from since around Thanksgiving of 2021. The West Virginia State Police started an initiative in 2011 to take another look at cold cases in each of the agencys districts. Woods was last seen by her husband. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Mahan left his home in Soak Creek around 10:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 2020, in his maroon 2009 Subaru Forester. The Tylenol Murders. The family keeps its hopes up, that the perpetrators will be brought to justice to answer for the crime on its 10th anniversary, said Kelly Poiani, Pettys sister. That was the last time they saw her. I think the Morgantown Police Department doesnt keep any files older than 1980. They were all handwritten, and he was trying to correct impressions that were coming over the news about where to look, and his claims about where the bodies werehe said, for instance, they were near a stream and in the woods. Kenny Poston,. According to court documents, police began. Brooke County Ambulance Service staff members who transported the child from the Kinker home found the infant unresponsive and lifeless.. It was a human skull. The area received 8-12 inches of snow the next day. J.R. Pauley, former district commander of the West Virginia State Police Princeton and Welch detachments. Authorities say her husband said he asked her to leave and did not know where she was. . She was last seen being picked up at her Pinewood Village Apartments. All the victims and wrongfully convicted people are listed by their last name. But, we havent found it yet. Poiani stays in regular contact with the Wood County Sheriffs Department, the agency which investigated the murder. His body was found halfway in and halfway out of a front door. 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. Berry was last seen leaving his apartment on July 24, 1986. Troopers believe he may have traveled to Fayette County. Four months later, on November 10, 1990, her remains were found by two hunters in the woods of Barrackville, West Virginia. Both these cases have generated multiple potential suspects, yet they remain unsolved, leaving investigators baffled. Two men were found and arrested, one of who said he was in the mine with Adkins around 2:30 a.m., but they had gotten separated. 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. That wasnt really a thing, so the police would always have to cobble together the things, but thats a whole lot less than ideal. Hurt was last seen leaving her sons home and drove to her Kanawha Terrace apartment. CASE DETAILS. Unsolved cases are submitted to the Cold Case Database on a voluntary basis. A warrant for kidnapping was issued for Susan on Nov. 13, 2000. Authorities say her last known contact with anyone was apparently April 2, 2015. The flyer says the two were last seen with Sharp at the West 76 Truck Stop near the Winfield exit. The boys told their mother, who contacted police about what they had found. He seemed to know a lot about the case. Holcomb reportedly has Alzheimers and may have headed toward Kentucky or Ohio. The next unsolved mystery: November 24, 1971. 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. Barki said he is unable to comment on another homicide being investigated by Brooke County authorities. - Christopher Devin Kinker, 21, of Follansbee is facing second-degree murder and child abuse charges after he allegedly killed his seven-week-old son. Hall was last seen walking out of his Lincoln Drive home. Tamperproof seals exist because of a 1982 spree, in which someone slipped cyanide into stores' Tylenol bottles, killing seven. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 6 Mine Road in the small Jenkinjones community without telling her family and friends. Nearly 150 evidentiary items were labeled. Adkins has not been seen since and no trace of him has been found. In December 2021, the FBI announced a reward of $10K for information that leads to a resolution in the case. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? SJM: The book starts out with the disappearance itself and all of the Morgantown police and the West Virginia State Police involvement with that up until when the girls are found, and then it focuses on the trials, one and two, with Eugene Clawson, and we talk about the possibilities of yay or nay in that. Hargreaves is a former professional rugby player who had moved to West Virginia. She has multiple piercings on each ear. Thompson was last seen around the 200 block of the 12th Street Extension in Princeton around noon Sept. 26, 2011. 10 Notre Dame to reach ACC finals, Taylor scores 28, leads No. Then in early March 2005, an East Street resident found an unusual object. Sgt. Ward had been in McDowell County for only a matter of weeks before being shot. The case of a young Bluefield teenager still remains unsolved after the teen was reported missing in 2004. May was last seen on Little Egypt Road in Gilbert. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If you know of a missing persons case not included in this list, please let us know below with the persons name, the details of the case and the agency leading the investigation. 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. Duke allegedly gave his neighbor a set of car keys saying he wouldnt need them anymore and walked away. She has a strawberry birthmark on the back of her neck. Windley was last seen in Kanawha City behind the Lowes along the Kanawha River. Low around 35F. He has a tattoo of an eight ball on his left leg. Flythe was driven from the FCI Gilmer in Glenville to the Greyhound Bus Station in Charleston. In our 3 part series, we will go back in time to resurrect 9 cold-case unsolved murders in the Mountain State. Gwin-Stephens dropped her husband off at work at the Industrial park in Beckley and has not been seen or heard from since. Flake wasnt known to leave her house on the old No. Loudoun County Sheriff's Office 803 Sycolin Road SE Leesburg, VA 20175 Phone: 703-777-0407 Fax: 703-771-5744 Mailing Address P.O. On Feb. 3, 1972, Bryce Durham, 51, his wife Virginia, 44, and their son Bobby, 18, were found murdered in their home during a snowstorm. Billy Flake searched for his mother on Tuesday, April 9, 2002, only to find an empty and undisturbed house. This article was originally published by West Virginia Public Broadcasting . Contact your local law enforcement agency to file a missing persons report. Little evidence was presented to the grand jury. PUTNAM COUNTY, WV (WOWK) The Putnam County Sheriffs Office is reopening a murder cold case from 35 years ago. High 47F. Investigators said Kinker allegedly admitted to shaking the child in his bassinet because he was crying, saying it caused his head to strike the wall. For anyone who has listened to the podcast, there are some extra suspects that we didnt have enough time to talk about on the podcast. Green was last seen at approximately 7:25 a.m. in the 2000 block of Eoff Street in Wheeling. The FBI should use DNA, not posters, to solve a cold-case murder. The hearing was held on Wednesday, July 8. On the evening of May 22, 1918, Jake and Andrew Maggio made a gruesome discovery. A Facebook was established, too, Justice for Judith Lynn Petty. Her Ford Explorer was discovered along Gardner Road not far from where her body was found. "This series is about the murder of Walter T. Smith in 1975," Dean said. Jeffrey Ruggles of Huntington - Last seen Nov. 26, 2005 at 28 years old. Q: Whats the most interesting part about this case to you? Victor was last seen playing with other children in the woods near Short Mountain. On a darkening early evening, shortly before 5 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 1990, some hunters stumbled upon her skeletal remains in a cow pasture at Robinson Hollow near Barrackville. Davis was last seen driving a blue Pontiac Bonneville. According to the report, Shannon Bartz sat on the bed for about 10 minutes and then called two friends before calling 911. He was supposed to get on a Barons Bus that morning and arrive in Washington DC the next day, but hasnt been seen or heard from since. Montana has one of the lowest murder rates in the Union. PARKERSBURG This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the unsolved murder of Judith Lynn Petty. Her vehicle was later found abandoned in the vicinity of Wyoming Street and Beuhring Avenue in Charleston. West Virginia State Police say her friends and family say she had been consuming alcoholic beverages with them when a verbal argument reportedly ensued. Frasher disappeared on the date he was scheduled to testify at a murder trial. Our objective is to locate these missing individuals and pursue justice against those who caused their disappearance or death through criminal means. If you are aware of a cold case that is not currently present on the website, please contact the investigating agency. They drew a mapa terrible map, and they said The animals are on the move. 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. Four men were questioned, with one held in prison for suspicion of murder and . Another murder case is unfolding in the Dec. 18 bow and arrow killing of a pipeline inspector in Wellsburg. The West Virginia State Police says Jones may be with a male named Jack Crone, the father of her child. London's most notorious serial . Marshall Hamilton. Leonard, a college student, lived with his roommate in 2019 and they were scheduled to go abroad after graduation to teach English overseas. So, thats kind of how the book progresses. George Bragg holds his "Unsolved Murders" book. PARKERSBURG This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the unsolved murder of Judith Lynn Petty. It's rather complicated too, since four people were charged at different times with the murder - but none were found guilty. Below is a list of missing persons cases in West Virginia that remain unsolved. Her family is offering a $1,000 for information that helps find her. The site displays unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and unidentified remains. There was reportedly a severe flood at the time Shinn was last seen. GF: Yeah, spread over time. Cochran was living with her mother at the time she disappeared. Published: Nov. 12, 2021 at 8:21 AM PST. So, after we go through those suspects, then we talk about our experiences separately and then when we started working together. The Roaring 20s bar on Hale Street in Charleston. Police pinged his phone and learned it was allegedly located in Phoenix, Arizona. SJM: I guess he thought theyd shorten his sentence in New Jersey. And, in reality, when we dug into it, he confessed a bunch of times, partial confessions, and changing things all the time. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. SJM: So, if anyone has anything to say about that, contact us. Friends of his were having a wedding. Law enforcement witnessed Kincaid jump from the 31st Street Bridge, but no sign of him or his body were ever found. 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. If you happen to know anything, please call the Dawson County Sheriff Department at (406) 377-5291. A missing persons report was filed four days later. DeBerry was reported missing at the same time as his nephew Tommy DeBerry who went missing March 10, 1990 at age 17. The murders captivated the region for decades. Hamm was last seen at his cousins home in Dunlow in the early morning of March 4, 2015. But, someone had written these letters saying that they wanted to help them find the bodies, and here was a map. Rocco Zuccaro, 28, of Burgettstown, Pa. will go on trial Feb. 23 for the shooting death of 30-year-old Jason Lee Pratz, who was found dead in his McKinleyville home on Feb. 19, 2013. Curry has a glass left eye and a tattoo of a cross on his left arm. 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. DeBerry disappeared within the same timeframe as his uncle Lynn DeBerry, whom he lived with and Dennis Powell. Police identified a person of interest in the case, but no charges have been filed to date. GF: There was another time that the magistrate fined the guy some small amount, 30 bucks or some kind of small amount of money for an assault. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Ms Rosser, 74 and Mr Shackleton, 72, were found dead in their car . 25. SJM: Right. He had an involvement in the case. Tulock sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene, apparently after attempting to intervene in a domestic dispute involving Barnhart and his girlfriend. He testified before Congress, all kinds of things. 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 It's been five years since the shooting death of Vienna resident Cindy Ball and many wonder why her case remains unsolved. An interesting angle presented during the grand jury hearing was. For some reason, he thought that was the plan. He was last seen in the Cheat Lake area. GF: Yeah, there were 30-35 mistakes in the articles, and Clawson just repeated those mistakes, and they were all completely wrong. She will be tried as an adult for allegedly beating her father, Donald Bartz, 56, to death with the butt of a shotgun. Here are six of the most vexing murder mysteries of all time: 1. The site displays unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and unidentified remains. Arnold was reported missing by his ex-girlfriends family. He walks with a significant limp that favors his left leg. Local police departments and county sheriffs departments also continue to seek new leads in their cold case investigations. Robert Davis and his wife Una Mae, both 32 years old, lived there with Una. Nov 21, 2019 - Mysterious events from WV saved by Mark Legg of Harper, WV. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Danny was an investigative journalist from Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C. 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. 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. March 7, 1997. He has a tattoo of a cross on his inner left forearm and his right arm is shorter than his left arm. Her body was recovered Feb. 9, 2008, in a burned out building off West Virginia 31 in. Brady was last seen boarding a Trailways bus in Logan and then in Bluefield, Virginia. Thats one of the reasons that Richard said, I dont think he did it. His confession was just like this magazine article. And it remains one of the most baffling cases for police - still unsolved until this day. Cochran has a tattoo on the thigh of her right leg that reads,see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil with three skulls. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? Here are eight truly bone-chilling unsolved crimes that will have you looking over your own shoulder. For every year that goes by, its another downer, Poiani said. Pettys family reported her missing a few days earlier on Feb. 6. More . 8am on the rainy morning of Saturday March 14th 1981 Secretary Wanda Davidson arrived for work at the offices of Boone-Meadows & Asso. Plentiful sunshine. A fifth homicide was settled with a plea on May 6 when Adam Michael Barnhart, 18, of Weirton, admitted to killing Frank Tulock, 36, of Orchard Street on Sept. 8, 2013. By J. JoAnn Plymale. Investigators have not described how she died. Paramount/Getty Images. 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. By Deirdre M. Enright. She has not been seen since. Her parents visited the next morning but she wasnt home. Authorities still believe there are other parties involved in a 2007 murder at Pinnacle Rock State Park. She has a scar on her nose. If you are trying to report that a person has gone missing to open an investigation, please do not use this form. The sheriffs office says Linda Sharp was a lifelong Nitro resident who was last seen in Teays Valley in the early morning hours of March 20, 1986. Beverly Christensen. 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. It was no longer a dorm, so there was no issue with the buses not being able to get out there because it wasnt a dorm anymore, but other than that, I cant say that a lot of safety precautions were taken. To provide information about these unsolved homicides, call Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111 or go to 5541111.com. Q: So there was little done about safety with the hitchhiking and everything like that? If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Seifs mother went to the Weirton Steel Mill where his father worked to learn he had not worked there under that name. But, apparently, a lot of other state troopers didnt feel that way. 5. So, when we found this Crutchley fellow and discovered that he had a whole stash of necklaces, we thought there might beso, we were in communication with the lead investigator down there. NICHOLAS COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A man is being charged with first-degree murder in Nicholas County after an argument. Hotel guest Danny Casolaro was lying dead in a tub of bloody water. Friends and family call her by the name Cherice.. She has not been heard from since. 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. There is a $250,000 reward on offer for information that could solve the murders of elderly couple May Rosser and Joe Shackleton. Sharp was last seen at Rollins Funeral Home where she had been attending a funeral. A flyer depicting the two persons of interest was generated at the time of the case. ATTENTION: This feature contains previously unreleased material and information concerning each case as well as never-before-published photographs, graciousl. Traveling at 25 mph, he was unable to stop in time and hit him. Witnesses said he was seen walking toward U.S. Route 52. We were kind of amazed that he got convicted because there was no evidence to speak of except his confession. New DNA testing may ID severed head found at Lake Houston. Sometimes, but I think as Sarah pointed out, there would be an abduction or some kind of event and it would get splashy news, and then when it actually got resolved, it was printed in a small story in the back of the newspaper, so people werent aware that there was a constant search for bad people doing bad things. This source claims that one was killed and thrown from a truck in front of Corning Glass in 1979, and the . Q: What got you interested in working on this case? His vehicle was found at the Pittsburgh airport, but there is no evidence he was ever there. Hayes left eye appears smaller due to a surgery and he has small gages in his ears. SJM: Im not really sure that they made any safety changes. Known as "The Babysitter", this unidentified serial killer is known to have murdered at least four children, possibly more, between 1976 and 1977. Q: Anything else that you would like to add? She was found behind the store's counter. There was no evidence that it had actually come because of the coed murders. The list in this story is correct as of March 28, 2022. GF: Yeah, so you cant go anywhere in West Virginia without being close to a stream and woods. Davis was picked up by an unknown driver, but left his phone at the location. Her vehicle was found Feb. 25, 2022 near the TNT area of Mason County with her belongings inside. We cant ignore them and we take them all seriously.. It was scary. 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. Her parents said they believed she was spending the night with her friend. Prosecutors maintained Carroll had arranged for the murder of Cathy Faye Carroll, his estranged wife, on April 22, 1986 at her home in Montgomery Heights. She did not take her belongings and expected to return home. Last seen at her home in Walker. 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. His vehicle was found in the head of Marrowbone Creek several days after he went missing. Two men, Wiley Carr, 43, and Kelly Morris, 34, were found after the department's ShotSpotter led police to crime. They interviewed more than 100 people. She told police her dad kicked her, causing her to fall, and he reached for another gun that was located behind him. He was the one who was in charge of the PRT project, and he didnt say anything in testimony. SJM: Yeah, its definitely more difficult. Red retired as a machinist. Crutchleys sister was going to WVU at the time and was also a freshman, and so I think we can find a connection between her and Mared and Karen. Timothys vehicle was found abandoned in Peterstown. I hope he gets a conscience this year to bring peace to himself and peace to his family, Poiani said. To keep creating new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help the Murderpedia project stay alive. Police believe Plants was in the foyer between his house and garage when the arrow struck him in the lower back. So, it was just happenstance that he had been shadowing someone who had the actual files, or otherwise, it wouldve been destroyed. Pettys remains were found in a burned out barn on a farm her father Marvin Petty owned off West Virginia 31. So, it all came together at almost the exact same time, and its been pretty serendipitous. In July of 1990, at 14 years of age, Fame Cooper went missing. Some evidence was removed from it and tested, but the tests were inconclusive, First Sgt. The motorcycle was later recovered abandoned on Hunters Fork Road in Barbour County. I think its fair to say we both dont think that he did it. West Virginia authors Geoffrey Fuller and S. James McLaughlin recently released a book with what they found during their decades-long investigation. According to a . Unsolved Cases - Kanawha County Sheriff's Office Unsolved Cases The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office works unsolved missing person and homicide cases to conclusion.