The blooms of a pear tree beneath the bell tower of the Wood County Courthouse. The Wood County Grand Jury on Thursday returned indictments against 91 people, including one charged with murder and two charged with attempted murder. (File Photo)

From staff reports

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Grand Jury on Thursday returned indictments against 91 people, including one charged with murder and two charged with attempted murder.

Barbara Cupp, 33, 717 Riverview Drive, Apt. 408, Belmont, was indicted on charges of murder and persons prohibited from possessing firearms.

On March 18, Wood County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 158 Maple Drive in Williamstown, where resident Matthew Allen Bills, 37, was found dead of apparent gunshot wounds, the sheriff’s office reported. Cupp was found in the residence, unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, and taken to WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.

Sheriff Rick Woodyard said Thursday that Cupp has not been arrested but he expects her to be as part of the grand jury process.

In another case, Charles Clinton Hess IV, 24, 1882 Buckner Bend Road, Parkersburg, was indicted on charges of attempted murder, malicious assault and first-degree arson from August 2024.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office responded on the morning of the incident to a report of a domestic situation in which Hess was accused of stabbing his mother at the Buckner Bend Road address. He had fled when deputies responded and was not initially found.

The next day, a structure fire was reported at the residence, while no one was home. Deputies found him and arrested him the evening after that in a wooded area near the residence.

Jacob Matthew Helmick-Williams, 29, in custody at the Salem Correctional Center, was indicted on two counts each of attempted murder and malicious assault, along with four counts of leaving the scene of a crash and one count each of grand larceny, domestic battery and destruction of property from incidents in July. A report on the incidents was not immediately available Thursday evening.

Ten people were indicted as co-defendants on a host of drug charges:

* Johnny Lee Bell, 51, 344 Rosedale Court, Detroit; 13 counts of second-offense conspiracy to commit a felony; four counts of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; two counts each of second-offense delivery of a controlled substance and second-offense transporting a controlled substance into the state; and one count each of conspiracy to commit maintaining a dwelling for keeping controlled substances and person prohibited from possessing firearms from April.

* Sarah Beth Elmore, 32, 1325 Covert St., Parkersburg; three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony from April.

* Grace Anne Keaffaber, 37, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail; four counts of conspiracy to commit a felony from April and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from December.

* Amber Dawn Perry-Fluharty, 39, 911¢ Mary St., Parkersburg; five counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and two counts of transporting a controlled substance into the state from April.

* Natasha Katherine Dunn, 36, North Central Regional Jail; two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, three counts of delivery of a controlled substance and four counts of conspiracy to commit a felony from April to August.

* Tyler James Fox, 36, 22820 Brimstone Road, Coolville; conspiracy to commit a felony from April.

* Darren Craig Farnese, 31, Washington County Jail; two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony from December to April.

* Shasta Danyelle Farnese, 25, 27335 State Route 7, Lot 7, Marietta; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit a felony from April.

* Melinda Faye Glenn, 32, 1419 19th St., Apt. R, Parkersburg; maintaining a dwelling for keeping controlled substances from April.

* Jacob Lee Bowen, 31, 1421 19th St., Apt. 2, Parkersburg; was indicted on three counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a felony from June to July.

Also indicted by the grand jury were

* Seth Thomas Adams, 20, and Sarah Katie Crookshanks, 25, both of 1752 Seventh St., Parkersburg, two counts each of child neglect creating substantial risk of death of bodily injury from July.

* Austin Mason Adkins, 27, in custody at the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County, was indicted on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and obstructing an officer from June.

* Raymond Michael Adkins, 46, 2601 16th St., Parkersburg; breaking and entering, attempted petit larceny and destruction of property from April.

* Donald Paul Anderson, 38, 1349 Avery St., Parkersburg; six counts each of first-degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person of trust from August 2021 to August 2023.

* Linda Grey Andrew, 46, Lakin Correctional Center; grand larceny, breaking and entering an automobile and conspiracy to commit a felony from September 2024.

* Kenneth Allen Ankrom, 45, North Central Regional Jail; strangulation, third-offense domestic battery, destruction of property, persons prohibited from possessing a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of violation of a protective order from July.

* Austin Russell Ash, 30, 3514 Burk St., Parkersburg; malicious assault from May.

* Josey C. Barton, 34, 225¢ Sheldon Ave., Marietta; two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count each of third-offense shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance from April.

* Kyle Lee Beha, 33, and Tia Elschlager, 43, both of 248 Lick Run Road, Walker; one count each of child abuse resulting in bodily injury and domestic battery from January.

* Stephen Black, 46, and Natasha Black, 32, of 11058 Pond Creek Road, Rockport; three counts each of child neglect creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury from March.

* Clayton Ashley Blackwell, 44, 64 Ivan St., Washington, W.Va.; five counts of third-degree sexual assault, 15 counts of incest and 15 counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian from April 2023 to June 2025.

* Lewis Deiondra Benjumin Blair III, 19, 74 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from May.

* William Boyd, 58, 3919 Tommy Bond Road, Coolville, and Willis Dale Starcher Jr., 56, address unknown; one count each of first-degree arson, burning or attempting to burn insured property and fraudulent insurance act and two counts each of conspiracy to commit a felony from December 2023 to December 2024.

* Brandon Michael Burdette, 31, North Central Regional Jail; three counts of third-offense shoplifting and one count each of fraudulent use of an access device, fleeing from a police officer and transporting a controlled substance onto the grounds of the jail from July 2024 to May 2025.

* Tyler Eugene Burge, 30, 3606 Sixth Ave., Parkersburg; three counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual abuse from May.

* Justin Wade Carmichael, 40, 42 Forest Drive, Apt. 108, Parkersburg; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and maintaining a dwelling for using, keeping or selling controlled substances from March.

* Micah Carr, 20, 1002 23rd St., Vienna; two counts of first-degree sexual assault and 10 counts of first-degree sexual abuse from December 2018 to July 2020.

* Christina Faith Cogar, 33, 2212 36th St., Apt. 5, Parkersburg; three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of maintaining a vehicle for keeping controlled substances from November.

* Daniel Lee Cox, 67, 1329 Lynn St., Parkersburg; four counts of delivery of a controlled substance from November through February.

* Paul Wilson Cumberledge, 39, Parkersburg; two counts each of strangulation and domestic battery and one count of domestic assault from October through June.

* Benjamin Norman Elder Jr., 69, 602 McGill Road, Vincent; fleeing from an officer in a vehicle with reckless indifference; fleeing from an officer in a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; and driving a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.15% or more from April.

* John Daniel Emerson, 47, Huttonsville Correctional Center; soliciting a minor via computer, attempted second-degree sexual assault, attempted human trafficking of a minor and attempted distribution or exhibition of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from September 2024.

* Ezra Eugene Foster, 31, and Torrie Brielle Grose-Foster, 34, both of 1031 32nd St., Vienna, were co-defendants. Foster was indicted on three counts of second-offense delivery of a controlled substance, one count of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of second-offense conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Grose-Foster was indicted on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and second-offense conspiracy to commit delivery of a controlled substance. All charges are from February.

* Jessica Jenette Fritts, 35, North Central Regional Jail; two counts each of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and second-offense conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from June.

* Montenez K. Gardener, 43, Centreville, Ill.; strangulation, domestic battery and destruction of property from June.

* Stephanie Lynn Gibson, 49, 9 Diamond Drive, Davisville; 20 counts of fraudulent use of an access device and one count each of computer fraud and fraudulent schemes from July 2024.

* Brian C. Hannah, 50, 2306 Lincoln Ave., Parkersburg; 12 counts of false pretenses from July 2021.

* Zachary Harrison Kirby Hart, 34, 1110 19th St., Parkersburg; malicious assault from April.

* Timothy Wayne Hill, 47, 820 Lynn St., Parkersburg; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from March 2023.

* Nicholas Hansel Hopper, 43, 290 Maplewood Heights, Ripley; grand larceny, use of altered title and fraudulent schemes from July.

* Terry L. Hunter, 68, Salem Correctional Center; failure to register from January.

* Devan James Johnson, 34, 186 Mineral Park Lane, Mineral Wells; delivery of a controlled substance from November.

* James Michael Johnson, 37, Vienna; strangulation, domestic battery, second-degree sexual assault and two counts of attempted second-degree sexual assault from March.

* Cheryl Lynn Johnson-Ethington, 47, 906 Pine Drive, Dunbar; fraudulent schemes and grand larceny from November through December.

* Scott Allen Jones, 42, North Central Regional Jail; three counts of attempt to disarm a law enforcement officer and one count each of obstructing an officer and possession of a controlled substance from February.

* Jesse Leon Kersey III, 30, North Central Regional Jail, third-offense shoplifting from June.

* Malik Earl Lake, 23, 1014 Gihon Road, Parkersburg; two counts each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from May and one count of delivery of a controlled substance from May 2023. Co-defendant Deshawn Derese Nelson Sr., 56, of the same address; two counts each of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count each of obstructing an officer, battery of a law enforcement officer and maintaining a dwelling for using, keeping or selling controlled substances, all from May. Co-defendant Deshawn Derese Nelson Jr., 26, Salem Correctional Center; two counts each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver and one count of obstructing an officer from May.

* Cowen Hart Pennington, 42, 1900 Steven St., Parkersburg; attempted breaking and entering from May.

* Selena Marie-Hope Petrone, 29, Parkersburg; child abuse creating risk of injury, strangulation and domestic battery from November.

* Four co-defendants are in custody at the North Central Regional Jail. Brandon Keishuan Reed, 25; four counts of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count each of fleeing from an officer in a vehicle causing bodily injury, fleeing from an officer in a vehicle with reckless indifference and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, all from January. Co-defendant Richard Matthew Paris Harman III, 30; five counts of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, four counts of second-offense delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of second-offense conspiracy to commit delivery of a controlled substance from January through June. Co-defendant Ronald Lee Burke, 47; one count each of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and second-offense conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from June. Co-defendant Danielle Nichole Padfield, 45; one count each of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from June..

* David Allen Rexroad, 49, 4809 Emerson Ave., Parkersburg; second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from August 2024.

* Mahala Layne Richards, 24, 2305 1/2 Oak St., Parkersburg; 20 counts of fraudulent use of an access device from July and August 2024.

* Darwin Darrell Riffle, 42, Vienna; three counts of second-degree sexual assault; seven counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian; three counts of incest; four counts of first-degree sexual abuse, from March 2024 through May 2025.

* Colby Allen Ruddlesden, 23, North Central Regional Jail; one count each of child abuse resulting in bodily injury, domestic battery and battery from July.

* Amanda Jane Sams, 41, 825 Seventh St., Parkersburg; five counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, driving while license revoked and maintaining a vehicle for keeping controlled substances from November to January.

* Kayla Marie Shaffer, 30, 1328 Latrobe St., Parkersburg; one count each of grand larceny and financial exploitation of the elderly from June.

* Ashton B. Shotwell, 36, 602 1/2 Hillcrest Terrace, Parkersburg; one count of third-offense shoplifting and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from April.

* Matthew Ward Skidmore, 46, Washington, W.Va.; 25 counts of distribution and exhibition of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from March, and six counts each of first-degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person of trust from October 2013 through October 2015.

* Clarence Julius Smith, 39, North Central Regional Jail; four counts of second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and two counts of second-offense maintaining a dwelling for using, keeping or selling of controlled substances from March.

* Anthony M. Steele, 34, Mt. Olive Correctional Center; one count each of escape, fleeing from a police officer, obstructing justice, transporting a controlled substance onto the grounds of a jail and possession of a controlled substance, from March.

* Ryan Sutton, 23, 4221 Fourth Ave., Parkersburg; two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor from June 2023 to March 2025.

* Ernest Bill Vandal, 41, 33 Atkinson Ridge Road, Walker; one count each of driving under the influence of a controlled substance causing death, driving while under the influence of a controlled substance causing bodily injury, driving in an impaired state and no proof of insurance from November.

* Heather Lee Wagner, 50, 727 Fourth St., Marietta; one count each of forgery and uttering from May 2022.

* Jason Lee Wilkinson, 38, 2896 Bull Run Road, Waverly; one count each of fleeing from an officer in a vehicle with reckless indifference, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and use or presentation of a firearm during the commission of a felony from April.

* Justin Gregory Williams, 37, 407 Locust Court, Parkersburg; six counts of fraudulent use of an access device and one count each of escape from custody and fleeing from a police officer from August 2024.

* Kevin Wilson, 35, Belleville; three counts of first-degree sexual abuse; two counts each of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian and incest; and one count each of first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual abuse from December 2019 through December 2021.

* Frank L. Wilt, 37, unknown address; one count of making terroristic threats from June.

* Scott A. Wine, 55, Salem Correctional Center; two counts of failure to register from March.

* Akya Shanyke Wonycott, 30, 1802 Spring St., Parkersburg; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver from November.