Murray charged with burglary

By ROGER ADKINSAnd JOLENE CRAIG, radkins@newsandsentinel.com jcraig@newsandsentinel.com
ELIZABETH — Another man who authorities believe was involved in the stabbing of a Wirt County man has been arrested by West Virginia State Police.

Howard Kenneth Murray, 31, of Parkersburg was charged with burglary in Wirt County and transferring stolen property in Wood County, a charge from January, according to the Wirt County detachment of the State Police. The crimes were committed before the stabbing of Brent Butler, 33, of Creston, took place on Wednesday, State Police said Friday.

Three people have so far been implicated by State Police, who initially called the men witnesses and wanted to talk to them.

Oscar Gibson, 33, and Cory A. Robinson, 20, both of Parkersburg, were charged earlier this week with nighttime burglary.

State Police said an anonymous tip led authorities to Pinewood Village in Parkersburg around 8 p.m. Thursday. They found Murray, who was questioned and subsequently arrested.

State Police said Murray, Gibson and Robinson assaulted Butler Wednesday morning, then returned and stabbed him.

Murray was arraigned in magistrate court Friday morning.

Murray, Gibson and Robinson have been remanded to the North Central Regional Jail on $50,000 bond each. Further charges are pending, State Police said.

According to court documents filed by Sgt. T.D. Corbitt of the Wirt County detachment of the West Virginia State Police, Gibson has been identified as one of the individuals who broke into Butler’s residence earlier this week.

The incident resulted in Butler’s stabbing death Wednesday, police said. Charges related to the death have not been filed.

Court documents said Gibson was one of the individuals who kicked in the entry door of Butler’s residence and aided in the victim’s assault. Earlier Thursday, Gibson was questioned by troopers with the West Virginia State Police detachment in Elizabeth

Authorities had been looking for Gibson and Murray, said Corbitt said. Police initially said the two were possible witnesses to the incident.

The incident occurred after Butler’s wife returned home with a friend and said they had been followed by a car that was in the driveway, authorities said. Butler confronted the group that followed his wife and an altercation occurred.

Butler was the only person injured, authorities said. He died from a stab wound in the upper leg, Wood County Coroner Mike St. Clair said.

Butler’s body has been sent to the state medical examiner in Charleston for an autopsy, St. Clair said.