Crime In The Coalfields

EPISODE 23 (FINALE): The WVU Coed Murders

In the final episode of Crime in the Coalfields Season 1, we tackle a case that has aspects of a cold case, a serial killing, and the paranormal. The WVU Coed Murders were committed over 52 years ago, and the case is a deep and storied one. Tackled already by books and podcasts, this case is known by some in the Northern part of the state. This case is full of twists and the full extent of it can barely be done justice in one episode. Regardless, we bring you the case of two girls murdered on WVU’s campus in 1970 for the finale of 2022.

Sources:

Original Newspaper clippings

Exploring New Possibilities in Decades-old Murders

True Crime from Appalachia: WVU Coeds and the Shenandoah Murders

Q&A: West Virginia authors write book about a Morgantown unsolved murder in the ’70s

52 years after West Virginia coeds found decapitated, investigators hope high-tech “X-Ray machine” help will locate final evidence

The Coed Murders

Renewed effort to find remains of WVU coeds murdered in 1970

EPISODE 22: The Murders of James Childers

Taking another look into West Virginia’s own serial killers, Crime in the Coalfields brings you the story of a known serial killer: James Childers. James Childers was a handyman with five murders and a number of arsons under his belt. His case is open and shut, but there are three alleged victims of Childers who remain unrecovered. The truth of serial killers is that sometimes the killer isn’t known, and sometimes.. neither are the victims.

Sources:

FBI Tries to Get Into the Mind of James Childers

West Virginia Man Claiming to Have Killed Five Placed Singles Ads

The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This Small West Virginia Town Is Truly Frightening

EPISODE 21: Skylar Neese

It’s been 10 years since the disappearance of Skylar Neese of Star City, West Virginia – Only, her case isn’t cold. Skylar was murdered by her two so-called best friends. Skylar was a regular 16-year-old High School student at University High. On July 6, 2012, she was lured into a remote clearing in Pennsylvania, where her friends Rachel Shoaf and Sheila Eddy stabbed her in the back in cold blood.

Sources:

16-Year-Old Skylar Neese Was Stabbed To Death By Her Two Best Friends Because They Didn’t Like Her Anymore

A teenage killer’s eerie tweets she sent after stabbing friend to death: ‘We really did go on three’

Dateline: Secrets Uncovered; ‘Something Wicked’

EPISODE 20: Missing in Southern West Virginia

Over 600 thousand people go missing in the United States every year, according to the National Missing Persons Database. A large percentage of these cases – nearly 99 percent of them – are canceled within a week. Wild and Wonderful West Virginia is no stranger to missing persons, either, with 143 people currently missing across the state. 24 of these cases are in 59News’ viewing area. This episode, we go over all 24 of these missing people’s cases and talk about how and when they went missing, because there’s always a chance they could again be found.

Sources:

NamUs

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 19: Ghosts of Southern West Virginia: Part One

The Greenbrier Ghost, The Lady in Red, and the ghost of William Martin. All of these stories and even more discussion are featured in this Halloween Special of Crime in the Coalfields. We bring back Ghost hunter and paranormal expert Scott Worley, from right here in Raleigh county, to talk about his favorite paranormal stories from our area. But these stories only scratch the surface. There will always be more cases of the strange and supernatural to cover on the podcast in the near future, so stay tuned for part two. This podcast is a 59News exclusive, sponsored by Rose and Quesenberry funeral Chapels and Notoriously Morbid.

Sources:

Raleigh County Ghost Hunter Scott Worley

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 18: The Greenbrier Ghost

This episode, we talk about a case solved because of testimony from the deceased ghost of the victim. The Greenbrier ghost, a woman named Zona Heaster Shue died under mysterious circumstances in the late nineteenth century. Her death in 1897 was presumed natural until her spirit appeared to her mother to describe how she was killed by her husband Edward. The testimony of a ghost surprisingly solved the case.

Sources:

Five favorite West Virginia Ghost Stories Recounted

The Greenbrier Ghost

Greenbrier Ghost, Zona Heaster Shue

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 17: Bob Snow

A case that’s been cold for ten years. A 10,000 dollar reward being offered by 7-11. These mark the case of Bob Snow, the regional manager of the Kanawha Valley 7-11 stores. He went missing under suspicious circumstances and was found by police floating in the Elk River.

Sources:

CPD still seeks information on 8-year-old murder of Robert ‘Bob’ Snow

WSAZ Investigates: What happened to Robert Snow?

Bob Snow murder mystery still haunts family, investigators 4 years later

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 16: Travis Summers

44-year-old Travis Summers was last seen at the One Stop convenience store on Eisenhower Drive in Beckley, on Wednesday May 7, 2014. For nine months no one saw or heard from him. When his body was found dismembered nine months later, police began an investigation suspecting foul play. Travis Summers’ family wasn’t notified that the remains were his until nearly an entire year after his disappearance. The cause? his body was unrecognizable. Travis’ case is a showcase of how remarkable resources can provide a family with some closure, but can there be more? Will the murderer of Travis Summers ever be found?

Sources:

Beckley Police Detective Morgan Bragg

Michelle Whitt

Police: Remains found at Eccles are missing man

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 15: Washed Away: David Fann

A murder in 2016 resulted in a body found at Lake Stephens. The body was David Fann, found stabbed to death after a routine day. However the day after being discovered, the crime scene was forever destroyed. The West Virginian thousand-year-flood happened. It washed away homes, lives, and any chance of finding the killer of David Fann.

Sources:

Detectives seek information to help break an unsolved a murder

UNSOLVED: The Murder of David Fann

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 14: Baby Grace

A well-known mystery in Charleston, West Virginia is the story of Baby Grace. An infant who turned up on the steps to the Bartlett Burdette Cox Funeral Home, her identity was never discovered in all this time. For 50 years, Ghost Hunters have sought answers about the truth behind Charleston’s Baby Grace and the other ghosts believed to reside in the building.

Sources:

Raleigh County Ghost Hunter Scott Worley

Food Among the Flowers: A Haunted History of a Former Funeral Home

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 13: The Random Murder of Ron Browning

A gruesome murder right here in Raleigh County, West Virginia. A random victim, a female perpetrator. Both of these aspects make this case a rare and unusual occurrence. Ronald Lee Browning was murdered and lacerated beyond recognition. After a string of robberies on the same street in Beckley brought police to the scene, a woman was arrested and admitted to the crime: 19-year-old Camille Browne. How and why did she do it?

Sources:

Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield

Court Documentation of the case

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 12: Marsha Ferber

In a unique collaboration with the podcast ‘I Was Never There’, Crime in the Coalfields brings you a cold case about a Morgantown bartender who hasn’t been seen for around 40 years. Marsha Ferber disappeared, leaving behind her wallet, keys, and several theories about where she could have gone. She was a folk hero to the people of downtown Morgantown, who helped the community in a myriad of ways. However, our special guests from ‘I Was Never There’ found out the darker story behind part of who Marsha Ferber was, and share how they came about their discoveries. These discoveries could make or break the story of how and why she went missing.

Sources:

Karen and Jamie Zelermyer

I Was Never There: Wonder Media

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 11: Megan Poston (Huntington Prom Night Murders Revisited)

Two and a half months ago, we told the story of the Huntington Prom Night Murders, four teenagers who were murdered on their prom night in 2005. On May 22nd, 2005, Donte Ward, Eddrick Clark, Michael Dillon, and Megan Poston, who was only sixteen, were all shot to death near Ward’s home. Megan Poston’s mother, Subrina Gebheart, spoke with us about what happened to her daughter. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only open investigation regarding the case is a 45,000 dollar reward for any information on the case, brought together by Subrina, the other families, and others in the community.

Sources:

Subrina Gebheart, Megan Poston’s Mother

Four Teens Shot After Prom

Herald Dispatch Timeline of the Murders

UNSOLVED: Huntington Prom Night Murders

Crime in the Coalfields is sponsored by Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Chapels.

EPISODE 10: Roy Melvin