Each of the cases listed on this page are regularly being worked by detectives. All the victims and wrongfully convicted people are listed by their last name. The phone number is 304 424-1834. She does not have a car, but could have left on foot or been picked up by someone. Authorities say Welch may have headed toward Valley Head, West Virginia. Authorities believe Roop may have been abducted. But James E. Childers had a secret life. Many people thought they knew him; he was a local handyman - described as friendly by his neighbors and local police. So, it was just happenstance that he had been shadowing someone who had the actual files, or otherwise, it wouldve been destroyed. In Washington County, the sheriffs department has two cold case officers, Bruce Shuck and Jeff Seevers, but retired officers cant be similarly deputized in West Virginia, Stephens said. Powell was last seen sometime between March 17 and March 24 of 1990. Below is a list of missing persons cases in West Virginia that remain unsolved. SJM: Yeah, its definitely more difficult. Poiani stays in regular contact with the Wood County Sheriffs Department, the agency which investigated the murder. 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. Police pinged his phone and learned it was allegedly located in Phoenix, Arizona. Poiani prays guilt overtakes the person or people involved and they turn themselves in to ease their conscience. The flyer says the two were last seen with Sharp at the West 76 Truck Stop near the Winfield exit. He is scheduled to return at 10:45 a.m. Jan 26. Skaggs was last seen hitchhiking either to town to pay a bill or to go to work in Ohio. Its a case Sheriff Steve Stephens hopes to someday solve. Sharp was last seen at Rollins Funeral Home where she had been attending a funeral. Ferbers vehicle, purse and belongings were found in Morgantown. By Deirdre M. Enright. The hearing was held on Wednesday, July 8. 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. Parsons went missing from a barge in the Ohio River. Her vehicle was found Feb. 25, 2022 near the TNT area of Mason County with her belongings inside. Fleshman was last seen leaving her home heading toward Roanoke, Virginia. Three days after Brenda and Losey Lee Bennetts son shipped off to Afghanistan in September 2007, tragedy struck here at home. New DNA testing may ID severed head found at Lake Houston. I did a write-up. George Bragg holds his "Unsolved Murders" book. 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. The murders captivated the region for decades. Clawson had been in Camden County jail since 1974, charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl and forcing a 15-year-old boy into sex acts at gunpoint. 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 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. A missing persons report was filed four days later. She allegedly told investigators that her father said, stop, youre killing me loudly as he dug his fingernails into her arms. You will find information on many of the missing persons cases being investigated by the Maine State Police in this area of our website. 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. Relatives said he did not answer his phone June 28 when they called for his birthday. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Authorities believe the three cases are connected. The flyer also says he had a large beer gut and a tattoo on his right arm depicting a naked woman with a snake wrapped around her body.. Hospital staff said fractures to the babys skull were consistent with being shaken and they also found more than one of the childs ribs were healing after having been broken. Witnesses say they saw her sitting in a red 1980s Chevrolet truck between two unknown men. Cochran was living with her mother at the time she disappeared. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Copyright 2023 Kanawha County Sheriff's Office. But, apparently, a lot of other state troopers didnt feel that way. Published: Nov. 7, 2019 at 9:36 PM PST. West Virginia State Police are investigating a new but undisclosed lead in the 1986 disappearance and death of an Oak Hill girl, State Police Cpl. 1982 cold case reopens after 18-year-old murder victim identified . Water's Edge At Sandbridge Beach. 5. I'm interested in (please check all that apply). Anyone with information regarding any of these cases is urged to contact the assigned detective at the contact information included in the summary, or by calling 304-357-0556. They were the first victims of the person who would become known as the Axeman of New Orleans. J.R. Pauley, former district commander of the West Virginia State Police Princeton and Welch detachments. Pauley said in an earlier interview. According to the NamUs website, Klomp was last seen when she was released from a facility. Sadly, her remains were found by hunters in November of that same year. While police are certain Roberts was guilty of the crime, they do not think he acted alone on that autumn afternoon. Pettys family reported her missing a few days earlier on Feb. 6. In addition to the murders, there are other serious cases demanding our attention, he said. Authorities say Greens sister last spoke to him by phone on Aug. 7, 2020. He said Donald Bartz did not approve of his daughters older boyfriend and he forbid her from having a cell phone to call him. She will be tried as an adult for allegedly beating her father, Donald Bartz, 56, to death with the butt of a shotgun. Seifs mother went to the Weirton Steel Mill where his father worked to learn he had not worked there under that name. Four months later, on November 10, 1990, her remains were found by two hunters in the woods of Barrackville, West Virginia. Police believe that a dog or some other animal brought the skull to East Street, said Lt. C.S. Which is why Poiani keeps the story in the public eye every year around this time. Crystal Cantrell, 36, of Welch, was last seen Aug. 6, 2010, on Gardner Road near Spanishburg with Michael Wiseman, according to an earlier report by retired First Sgt. 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. 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. 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. Dan Cooper was a passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 305, from Portland to Seattlea 30-minute flight. The book chronicles the 1953 murder of Charleston Daily Mail owner Juliet Staunton Clark. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. The West Virginia State Police say there are suspicious circumstances surrounding Keenes disappearance. Welcome to the Virginia Cold Case Database This website was developed to assist Virginia State Police investigators and local law enforcement in soliciting tips on unsolved cases throughout the Commonwealth. Tamperproof seals exist because of a 1982 spree, in which someone slipped cyanide into stores' Tylenol bottles, killing seven. Arnold was reported missing by his ex-girlfriends family. From Hell portrays Abberline as an opium addict who often relies on psychic visions to solve cases. She was last seen being picked up at her Pinewood Village Apartments. GF: And a lot more details than we could talk about on the podcast about all the suspects. They interviewed more than 100 people. GF: Yeah, spread over time. She had not had her medication that day, authorities say. 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. 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. I think the Morgantown Police Department doesnt keep any files older than 1980. J. Kincaid said this week. Feb. 9 will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Judith Lynn Petty. SJM: Right. Authorities say her husband said he asked her to leave and did not know where she was. 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. The Oakland County Child Killer. More . PARKERSBURG This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the unsolved murder of Judith Lynn Petty. Unsolved cases are submitted to the Cold Case Database on a voluntary basis. SJM: Im not really sure that they made any safety changes. So, it all came together at almost the exact same time, and its been pretty serendipitous. He has a tattoo that reads ANS on his shoulder, a tattoo of the chemical structure of marijuana on his inner left arm and a tattoo of the Legend of Zelda Triforce symbol on his inner right arm. Curry has a glass left eye and a tattoo of a cross on his left arm. He went missing shortly after Lynn DeBerry and Tommy DeBerry. This website was developed to assist Virginia State Police investigators and local law enforcement in soliciting tips on unsolved cases throughout the Commonwealth. We were kind of amazed that he got convicted because there was no evidence to speak of except his confession. Curry had been staying with a friend during which time the friend became hospitalized. Mathis was last seen at his home. 2500 Block of Arctic Avenue. Friends of his were having a wedding. The exact date of her disappearance is unknown. 6 Mine Road in the small Jenkinjones community without telling her family and friends. Grace Smith was last seen at her fathers home in Gallipolis Ferry on Feb. 23, 2022. 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. He was last seen walking up to an apartment building on Rhea Terrace, but has not been seen or heard from since. Hargreaves has a tattoo of his family crest on his right arm. Doctors at Roanoke, Va., and a medical examiners findings determined Lees injuries were no accident. 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. Thats one of the reasons that Richard said, I dont think he did it. His confession was just like this magazine article. The following day, a note and will were found at his home in Wood County. All of her personal belongings were left behind. As for Pamela Drennen Cummings, her mother's murder 21 years earlier remained unsolved, and one of the two men later both she was convinced killed her mom escaped justice in her mind. That seemed to be just solely a WVU transportation problem because of the two campuses. "This one is interesting because it's still unsolved," Pratt said. A visitor to McDowell County was shot and killed July 28, 2007. . Among the still unsolved crimes in our region: The death of a McDowell County woman, whose body was found in Mercer County in 2010, remains unsolved. Thompson was last seen around the 200 block of the 12th Street Extension in Princeton around noon Sept. 26, 2011. 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. Here are eight truly bone-chilling unsolved crimes that will have you looking over your own shoulder. . She has not been heard from since. Metheny was last seen dropping her children off at a daycare in the vicinity of the 3000 block of Dupont Avenue in Belle. Edmunds has been diagnosed with dementia. GF: And I went through three boxes of Samuel Eliass papers. Sines was last seen in Kingwood, but was also known to frequent the Clarksburg area. Authorities say Cochran may have changed her hair color. John Brennan Crutchley is the person that I think is likely to have done it. 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. It's rather complicated too, since four people were charged at different times with the murder - but none were found guilty. Aigeltinger was last seen at a Sheetz in Manassas Park, Virginia. He has a cross tattoo and a tattoo of the Pittsburgh Pirates P logo. She also learned there is no record of him in the Department of Immigration and that he had used an alias to marry her. 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. Ball was found shot to death by hunters in the woods near Sugar Camp Road in Wirt County on October 24, 2014. Police continue to seek leads in regions unsolved homicides, Samantha Perry named CNHI Columnist of the Yea, Those Who Served War Museum reopens Monday, Red Devils fight back to snatch sectional crown, Richlands girls basketball coach arrested for assault following tournament incident, Local man faces 17 to 45 years in prison after sentencing on sexual assault and child porn, Virginia man facing second-degree murder after Maple Acres Road shooting, Tom Rife named All-SWD Girls Basketball Coach of the Year, Bramwell Corner Shop appearing on America's Best Restaurants, Coach behaving badly: Richlands players paid consequences for Rifes actions, Granada, Raleigh St. Cinemas, will fill void in AMC theaters closing, Officials to investigate incident between Richlands girls coach and spectator, Richlands 2D tournament incident receives national coverage, Mercer County Sheriff's Departmet warns public about new scam. Lambert disappeared from her home on her sons 1st birthday. Loudoun County Sheriff's Office 803 Sycolin Road SE Leesburg, VA 20175 Phone: 703-777-0407 Fax: 703-771-5744 Mailing Address P.O. The site displays unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and unidentified remains. Two drivers taken to hospital after Belington crash, WVU team wins international mine rescue competition, Grafton First Fridays honors Youth Art Month, Stories of the Week: February 26 through March 4, Celebrating Volunteers with Miley Legal Group, West Virginias Remarkable Women for 2023, Canaan holding Brewfest next weekend with new local, Stonerise Bridgeport crowns 2023 king and queen, Inaugural Polar Plunge held in Buckhannon, Fishermen spot river monster in the West Fork River, My parents were taken advantage of by evil people How the troubled teen industry manipulates parents, 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? West Virginia, USA. Her body was recovered Feb. 9, 2008, in a burned out building off West Virginia 31 in. January 1975. June 1973. Green was last seen at approximately 7:25 a.m. in the 2000 block of Eoff Street in Wheeling. Danny was an investigative journalist from Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C. She reportedly walked off sometime after 8 p.m. and hasnt been seen or heard from since. Still no charges have been filed in the 2004 disappearance of Barbara Jean Flake of McDowell County. Both these cases have generated multiple potential suspects, yet they remain unsolved, leaving investigators baffled. as well as "unsolved murders" along the Blue Ridge Parkway and a 1996 killing of two women . He had an involvement in the case. Eventually, Beverly Manor was closed. Plentiful sunshine. 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. Marshall Hamilton. He has a large multicolored tattoo of the Grim Reaper on his upper left arm. It was scary. When police found the pair, they were decapitated, and their murderer has never been found. He has not been in contact with his family and it isnt known if he ever left the country. 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. If you have any information that could help solve one of these cases, please use the Submit a Tip form on each page or contact the reporting agency directly. West Virginia State Police say her friends and family say she had been consuming alcoholic beverages with them when a verbal argument reportedly ensued. Our objective is to locate these missing individuals and pursue justice against those who caused their disappearance or death through criminal means. All Rights Reserved. WELLSBURG Joseph Barki is carrying a full plate of murder cases into his third year as Brooke County prosecutor. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Two boys and two girls went missing from their Oakland . In July of 1990, at 14 years of age, Fame Cooper went missing. No bit of information is too small or insignificant, she said. SJM: [To Geoff] But what do you think is the most interesting part of the case? She did not take her belongings and expected to return home. Hurt was last seen leaving her sons home and drove to her Kanawha Terrace apartment. He had been shot three times. 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 tracked down more than 1,000 leads, but came up empty. The reason why you find the wrongfully convicted in my database is simple: when the exonerated is taken out of the . Hotel guest Danny Casolaro was lying dead in a tub of bloody water. We have many plans and enthusiasm to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really need your help for this. 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. Lynn Seethaler & Janice Pietropola. It is believed Spangler may have been missing for three to four weeks before he was reported missing. Four months later, on November 10, 1990, her remains were found by two hunters in the woods of Barrackville, West Virginia. No one has seen her since. State Police investigators soon found a suspect, Benny Ray Roberts Sr., 53, of Brushfork, who was convicted of the crime. He has a tattoo that reads Dalton on his right arm. Montana has one of the lowest murder rates in the Union. Mahan left his home in Soak Creek around 10:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 2020, in his maroon 2009 Subaru Forester. 8am on the rainy morning of Saturday March 14th 1981 Secretary Wanda Davidson arrived for work at the offices of Boone-Meadows & Asso. 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. Days later, on March 12, 2005, two young boys walking down East Street kicked that object, but did not realize what it was until it rolled down the incline. But then the anniversary comes and the sadness returns for herself and parents, who also live to see the killers brought to justice.