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Updated: 9:04 AM Jul 4, 2008
UPDATE: Pastor Murder Suspects Back in Wayne County
Thursday afternoon, Daniel Smith and Stephen Wilson were arraigned on 1st degree murder charges in Wayne County Magistrate Court. WEB EXTRA: watch video of the murder suspects back in Wayne County & in court in Columbus
Posted: 11:46 AM Jul 2, 2008Reporter: Anna Baxter Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com |
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26 Comments 
Photos 
UPDATE THURSDAY
WAYNE, W.Va. (WSAZ)- The suspects in the murder of a Huntington Minister have been returned to Wayne County.
Daniel Smith and Stephen Wilson are both charged in the death of Reverend Mark McCalla.
They were arrested last week in Columbus, Ohio. On Wednesday, both suspects waived extradition in a Columbus courtroom.
Thursday morning, they were returned to Wayne County to face murder charges.
Both were arraigned in Wayne Magistrate Court early Thursday afternoon. Both face 1st degree murder charges.
Bond was denied during that brief hearing. Both men were then taken to the Western Regional Jail.
they had to very quiet about bringing the suspects back to West Virginia for concern over the safety of the officers and the suspect in the event a crowd showed up.
Sheriff Dave Pennington told WSAZ that he has received many calls about this case and feels the wheels of justice moved quickly in the arrest of these individuals. He says his biggest fear in transporting Wilson and Smith was their safety and the safety of his officers in the event that a crowd may come out and try to approach the suspects.
"A lot of work still has to be done," Pennington said.
Investigators are still looking for McCalla's wallet, which was the focus of the search at the shooting range Wednesday.
Smith and Wilson are now in the Western Regional Jail. When asked if they killed the pastor and whether they had anything to say to the McCalla family, they remained silent.
A preliminary hearing for both men is set for Wednesday morning.
Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY
WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Federal, state, and local authorities are back out looking for more evidence in the murder of a pastor from Huntington.
We're told officers returned to the shooting range in Wayne County Wednesday where they believe the murder took place.
Daniel Smith and Stephen Wilson are both charged in the death of Reverend Mark McCalla.
They were arrested last week in Columbus, Ohio.
Wednesday both suspects waived extradition in a Columbus courtroom. That means they can now be brought back to West Virginia to answer murder charges.
Wayne County Sheriff says once the paperwork is complete, deputies will travel to Columbus to pick up the suspects. We're told that could happen as early as Thursday.
Smith and Wilson were also both arraigned on a fugitive from justice charge because police say they both went AWOL from the Army earlier this year.
Deputies say Smith and Wilson robbed and killed the pastor at the shooting range. A state forestry worker found McCalla's body on June 19-th.
McCalla was the pastor at Highlawn Presbyterian in Huntington.
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Latest Comments
whoever anonymous was..i agree. Wilson was one of my good friends. he wanted to be in the army for as long as i have known him. that was his passion. he got mixed with the wrong person and they both didn't know when to quit. it's heartbreaking. Im heart goes out to the family. I couldn't imagine. But no one stops to think about that being one of their best friends, or husband, or relative that did it. The worst part is not being able to believe it. This is not excusable. i know. but it is no one's place to judge. except for Gods. That life will never be replaced. But if you don't know them don't think you know what is best. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." Mathew 7:2
Try knowin someone before they kill.We all are dealing with loss and grief too right now.My heart goes out to the victim's family and friends,but it also goes out to the man i knew.even if it was for a short time,he helped me out.You don't know anything about him,unless its related to the crime.my heart also goes out to the man i have never met.Don't ever call these men punks again.These comments on this page make me sick.Please leave them alone.Please
Someone told me that if you go AWOL during a time of war they could be shot down without any questions asked? To me, this should be done AWOL or not. These guys just blantedly shot a minister in the head. I think that prison is too good for these two punks.
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