The Times West Virginian

Local News

Related Photos

  • PHOTO BY DANNY SNYDER

    week-long excavation
September 29, 2008

Police bring week-long search to end

Two ‘items of interest’ found

By Bill Byrd

FAIRMONT — Two “items of interest” but no human remains were found by Fairmont police during a nearly week-long search of a patch of roadside land in Montana Mines, police said.

The hunt for human remains is believed to be linked to a missing person case, but police, as they have throughout, are staying close-mouthed. Starting last Tuesday and ending Sunday, the search covered nearly an acre of brush next to Montana Road.

Although they did not find any human bones, that’s not a setback for investigators, Chief Mark Hayes said at a Monday press conference.

Checking all credible tips — and the anonymous tip police received last week that prompted the search is still considered a good one, he said — is part of a thorough investigation, Hayes said.

“We gave it our best shot. We’re not discouraged,” he said. “We can take this and build on it” using the results to check other tips that may come in as well as a check on past work.

Sgt. Matt Pigott, the lead detective on the case, said police have two missing person cases: Faith Ann Willis, 21, of Barrackville, who was last seen on the night of Aug. 6, 2005; and that of a man named Spencer Berry. Berry went missing in 1986, Pigott said.

Pigott declined again to say whether the latest search in Montana Mines was for the remains of Willis or Berry. Within months of Willis’ disappearance, police did several searches in the Montana Mines area in connection with her case.

Several of Willis’ relatives stood vigil while detectives cleared the brush and scraped open the earth with small, “bobcat-excavators.” As they do in every major case, police have kept the family informed over the years, Pigott said.

“We did find some ‘items of interest’ that we’re going to send to the West Virginia State Police crime lab for processing,” he said.

He declined to say what was found or on which day it was discovered. The crime lab experts will decide whether the items can be analyzed and, if so, whether they can do the analysis or whether another lab is better equipped to do so, Pigott said.

The decision to clear the ground was based on “hits” or indications of human remains at the site. The hits came from cadaver dogs. The Barbour County Search & Rescue Team and the WV K-9 Search & Rescue Inc. unit donated their dogs and handlers for the search.

Pigott also thanked residents of the hilltop community for supplying the searchers with food and drink.

Also helping were: Richard Helms, Mike Fortney, Mike Chisler and Richard Sypolt of Chisler Inc., Patty and Al Kincaid of Kincaid Construction, MPE Rentals, the U.S. attorney’s office (for liaison with the FBI and the federal Homeland Security department), the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the county prosecutor’s office, and the State Police.

E-mail Bill Byrd at bbyrd@timeswv.com.

Text Only
Local News
  • Mannington couple dies in fire

    A fire late Friday night claimed the lives of a Mannington couple.
    According to officials on scene, the fire began around 9:30 p.m. Fire rescue personnel were alerted after one of the victims, a woman, called her daughter to tell her that there was a fire in the house and that they could not get out.

    February 3, 2012

  • Groundhog breakfast -JB.jpg Heritage and longevity

    First Exchange Bank focused on heritage and longevity during this year’s Groundhog Day Breakfast.
    Nearly 250 people attended the financial institution’s 17th annual breakfast at Westchester Village in Fairmont Thursday morning.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • ‘Skepticism’ marks water meeting

    The state Public Service Commission came to the Grant Town Community Building for a long, often exciting hearing on the state of the Ministers Run Water Association Thursday afternoon.

    February 3, 2012

  • Decision leads to new trial for Horton

    William Michael Horton Jr. is headed to a new trial.
    On Thursday, Judge Michael Aloi denied post-trial motions by Horton’s defense attorney, David DeMoss, to dismiss four counts of burglary and robbery that had resulted in a mistrial in December.

    February 3, 2012

  • ‘Amazing stories’ mark FGH program

    On a few occasions during the 21-year history of Fairmont General Hospital’s every-other-week multiphasic blood program, some simple blood work has alerted a patient to a disease such as leukemia or colon cancer early on.

    February 3, 2012

  • Officials: Fire near Hopewell Road possible case of arson

    State fire marshals are investigating a fire in the East Grafton Road area that officials are calling a possible case of arson.
    Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Lambert advised in a press release Thursday that he believes the rental property, located near Hopewell Road, had been set on fire intentionally.

    February 3, 2012

  • Water situation simmers in Grant Town area

    The state Public Service Commission came to the Grant Town Community Building for a long, often exciting hearing on the state of the Minister’s Run Water Association Thursday afternoon.

    February 2, 2012

  • Colleen Morris-foodpantry-DS.jpg Filling the gap

    When we think of people in need of the services of a food shelter, the permanently (or semi-permanently) needy come to mind, people who can’t find a job and struggle day in, day out to make ends meet.
    But what about people who have encountered unexpected hardship, like a medical emergency, and need a last-minute boost to make it until the next paycheck comes along?

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Dominion Hope’s gas rates lowered

    As Dominion Hope’s residential gas customers see a decrease in their bills, the discussion on the company’s purchased gas costs continues.
    The purchased gas portion of the bill, which is the cost of the natural gas that the company purchases from its supplier, has dropped 25 cents, or 3.85 percent, per Mcf (thousand cubic feet).

    February 2, 2012

  • PSC hearing scheduled today in Grant Town

    The state Public Service Commission will try to resolve a situation that has Grant Town’s water bills rising.
    The PSC will hold a hearing at 1:30 p.m. today at the Grant Town Community Building on Ballah Avenue in Grant Town.

    February 2, 2012