FAIRMONT —
Phillip Reese Bush will stand trial May 15 for the triple Windmill Park homicides of 1974.
Appearing before retired Marion County Circuit Judge Fred L. Fox, defense attorney Dave Graneau rejected a chance to continue the trial to the June term of Marion County Circuit Court.
Bush had been indited on three counts of first-degree murder and one county of conspiracy to commit a felony by a special grand jury on Feb. 22 of the Aug. 2, 1974, execution-style murders of Fairmont residents Guy Lester Phillips, 20, and his wife, Wanda Jane Phillips, 19, and Billy Ray Cobb, 27. Their lifeless bodies were found early that morning by groundskeepers.
The 64-year-old Bush pleaded not guilty to all four counts of the indictment.
Both Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Patrick N. Wilson and Graneau agreed to deny bond to Bush, who is serving life sentences without mercy at the Mt. Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County for the conviction of a 1982 double homicide in Fairmont.
Bush had been named as a shooter in the Windmill Park homicides in a criminal complaint filed at Marion County Magistrate Court on Feb. 6.
The complaints, which were filed by police and signed by Marion County Circuit Court Judge Michael Aloi, read: “Eddie Jack Washington, along with Phillip Reese Bush, shot and killed William Ray Cobb at or near 609 Bellview Blvd., Fairmont, Marion County, WV. This is based on witness statements as well as Washington’s post-Miranda admissions.”
He is serving two life sentences at the Mt. Olive Correctional Complex for a double homicide committed in Fairmont in 1982. He was remanded to the prison following the arraignment.
Washington was arraigned Monday and will stand trial at some point this summer.
Find the full story in Thursday’s Times West Virginian, available at newsstands or through home delivery by calling 304-367-2525 or 304-367-2527.
Local News
Bush to stand trial May 15
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