14 Years Later: Pain still fresh for family of Judith Petty as they seek answers
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PARKERSBURG -- Each day for the past 14 years Kelly Poiani has relived the murder of her sister, Judith Lynn Petty.
"You just can't walk away from this," she said.
And each year around this time Poiani raises the public awareness of Petty's murder in hopes it jogs someone's memory of a forgotten bit of information that could lead investigators to the perpetrators.
Petty was last seen on Feb. 6, 2008, walking near her residence in north Parkersburg to the Parkersburg-Wood County Public Library where she was to return books, around 36th Street and Emerson Avenue. She was reported missing on Feb. 6.
Her body was found in a farm building owned by her father, Marvin Petty, on West Virginia 31 in Waverly that was destroyed by a fire. Investigators believe Petty, 48, may have been killed before the building caught fire.
No vigil, special ceremonies or other public events are planned, Poiani said.
Nothing new has been learned in the past year, other than a tip generated after a newspaper article in Charleston, Poiani said. That, too, has gone nowhere.
The family is arranging a meeting with recently appointed Sheriff Rick Woodyard, who as a deputy sheriff was involved in the initial investigation, she said.
"I still believe in my soul there are people out there who know something, but are afraid to come forward," Poiani said.
A witness who discloses the incriminating information may be afraid of retribution from the people involved in the murder, Poiani said.
This has been a difficult year for the family with other issues, she said. Poiani said her husband, Robert, 65, died in December and her mother, Joan, had heart issues.
"It hasn't been easy," Poiani said.