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UPDATE: Pastor Murder Suspects Back in Wayne County

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Posted: 11:46 AM Jul 2, 2008
Last Updated: 9:04 AM Jul 4, 2008
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com

25 comments

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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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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: youdontknow on Aug 13, 2008 at 06:28 PM
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

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 11, 2008 at 09:29 PM
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

Posted by: stephanie on Jul 6, 2008 at 11:44 PM
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.

Posted by: Resident on Jul 6, 2008 at 09:17 PM
why isnt the person hiding these guys in trouble .after all this person said they new they was AWOL from the army if this person would of said something there wouldnt be a murder because they would have been taken back to Fort Drum before they killed. think about it..

Posted by: Joe on Jul 6, 2008 at 12:41 PM
String them up at the shooting range. Good target practice.

Posted by: buck on Jul 5, 2008 at 07:45 PM
no dont killem just let em go to jail. they will get took care of real good by the other inmates. let them suffer

Posted by: Chick on Jul 5, 2008 at 12:28 PM
LOSERS! Let them see what it's like. They're AWOL from the army so they'll probably be sent to an Army prison and never see the light of day again. I say kill them. What's fair for the goose is fair for the gander. Make them die a slow death, starve them or something.

Posted by: Heather on Jul 4, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Dumb suggestion- read up on your laws buddy and what can happen after they (the culprits) cross state lines.

Posted by: Raven on Jul 4, 2008 at 10:32 AM
My thoughts and Prayers go out to the family and friends of the Pastor.The first comment was whats this world coming to. We have beame a society that protects the criminal thugs like these two.We took corpral punnisment out of the schools several years ago and i think thats when all this lawlesness started.When we got it in school we got it when we got home. We Respected our elders.Now the youth of America have no respect.They dont obey the laws they laugh at them as they laugh at our teachers when they are corrected. Oh yes lets not leave out children protective services they have their place but when you try and correct your children dont forget all they need do is pick up the tele and your the one in trouble.Im not in favor of the Death penalty but i say bring back the wood sheds of America. Lets stop these Thugs before they get started. Let the teachers and educators do their jobs.Its just getting worse Drugs on every street corner.COWARDS yes they are.Please let me be on their jury

Posted by: Frank on Jul 4, 2008 at 09:36 AM
We need a public hanging on the court house lawn for these guys and a few more be sure to bring the fried chicken

Posted by: storm on Jul 4, 2008 at 09:36 AM
the one soldier served in Iraq for almost 2 years, and was having cousiling at fort drumm in ny,,,maybe with all the violent crimes being committed by soldiers back from war maybe the military needs to give these men about a year of counsil to readjust to nomal life and not a life of fear at every move and noise, a normal man would not have done this especially one who was at one time serving our country as a hero. where have we failed them in getting back in the mainstream of life stateside..to many questions in what happen to this young man. to just past judgement without asking questions...some people burn out and suffer from post tramatic stress syndrom.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 4, 2008 at 03:34 AM
I have a question. We are at war. I dont know the aspects of it. I know our men and women are still fighting and dying everyday. But is it a declared war?? Are we legally at war now, or is it over?? If it is still going on, the act of War, then can these 2 boys, being AWOL, be charged and hanged by the army?? I know that if a war is declared, an awol soldier can be sentenced to death. Does that apply now? I hope this question makes sence. Also I agree with DUH..The murder was commited on federal property. Shouldnt the feds come in and charge them and sentence them to death? If anyone has an answer, or website I can look at, please let me know. Thanks...My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.

Posted by: anon... on Jul 4, 2008 at 02:28 AM
I heard that because they were missing from the military and murdered someone they could possibly get the death penalty under military ruling? I also heard they could be hanged if given the death penalty under the military... Is this correct?...

Posted by: i agree with golden on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:21 PM
let the family decide what to do with them. they need to be done the same way they did him. i say death penalty the old fashioned way

Posted by: DUH on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:28 PM
HEY---- even though it happened in WV, it happened on FEDERAL property. The Feds can issue the death penelty no matter where it happened. AND they still face charges from being AWOL -- It's possible these goobers will spend time in military prison.

Posted by: Wv Hillbilly on Jul 3, 2008 at 04:57 PM
THEY R BACK!! now dont every1 start chanting 4 d death penalty,think this over,leave them alive,how do u think they will fair n d pen?this ranks right up there with molestation as I said let'm live. Good job 2 d magistrate they dont deserve bond,and its a capital offence so he can deny them,I didnt think that a mag. could set a bond n a capital case but I was evidentally wrong.they will b tried and nailed 2 d wall! I said it b4 they picked d wrong county 2 kill a pastor n,why of all people harm some1 like that?no honor no reason, NO GUTS!!! leave God fear'n people alone,I was once a christian and I know how truly couragous u gotta b 2 make it but these "men" r COWARDS!! boys I hope u get life and u prob will,have fun n there with real bad men even among them there r certain things u just dont do.

Posted by: golden on Jul 3, 2008 at 04:35 PM
they should let the familys of the pastor take care of the two thats in jail now that would save the tax payers a lot of money in the long run !!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Dumb suggestion on Jul 3, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Ohio can't try them because the crime happened in WV!!!

Posted by: Pablo on Jul 3, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Where are our elected state officials ever going to give us the death penalty?

Posted by: to heather on Jul 3, 2008 at 02:51 PM
NOW GET REAL YO THESE TWO GUYS WILL GET LIFE WITH OUT I DID 5 1/2 YRS IN PRISON TRUST ME THOSE GUYS WILL PAY IN PRISON,,

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 3, 2008 at 02:48 PM
they will get off with a warning and a promise that they won't go out and kill again

Posted by: Pablo on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I agree with your views on these scumbags (if found guilty in a court of law)but instead of Ohio executing them, West Virginia needs to do it. So, why don't our elected state officials give us the death penalty?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 3, 2008 at 06:17 AM
how do you guys know they are guilty

Posted by: heather on Jul 2, 2008 at 08:50 PM
why not let them be tried in ohio and be sentenced to the death penalty instead of West Virginians' having to pay for these scumbags to eat in our prisons for a few years before they're released

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:04 PM
what is this world coming too?

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