UPDATE: Suspect Arrested in Fort Gay Murder
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Updated: 7:51 AM Jan 8, 2009
UPDATE: Suspect Arrested in Fort Gay Murder
An arrest has been made after a body was found in Wayne County.
Posted: 7:26 PM Jan 7, 2009
Reporter: Hanna Francis
Email Address: hanna.francis@wsaz.com
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Update at 10 p.m.
WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police got a call around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday from the victim's father, who said he thought his son had been beaten to death.

When police and an EMS crew arrived, they found the body of Richard Boyes with a single gunshot wound to the head. It happened along Hewlett Road -- just off Big Sandy River Road in Wayne County.

When police were there, they got the name of Elmer Turner who was with the victim Tuesday night.

Turner voluntarily came into the sheriff's department Wednesday to give his statement. He said that he was drinking with the victim last night and that they had an argument.

At first, Turner said he blacked out and couldn't remember what happened. Shortly after that, he admitted that he had the gun in his hand when the bullet hit Boyes.

"He claims it was an accident, but there's enough information in our investigation, which leads me to believe it was more than an accident," said Wayne County Sheriff's Detective Chester Maynard.

Turner was arraigned Wednesday night in Wayne County and charged with murder. He was jailed without bond.


Original story
WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- An arrest has been made after a body was found in Wayne County.

Wayne County Sheriff's Detective Chester Maynard said the body was found around 10 a.m. Wednesday in a building under construction on Hewlett Road. That’s just off Big Sandy River Road near Fort Gay.

The original call was that a man was possibly beaten to death, but detectives tell us Richard Shane Boyes died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Witnesses gave the name of a possible person of interest who was with the victim last night. Deputies contacted Elmer Wesley Turner, and he voluntarily came in and gave statements. The statements provided led to probable cause to charge him with murder.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information as it becomes available.

Latest Comments

Posted by: courtney boyes on May 31, 2009 at 05:54 PM

i will never forget him !!! <3 and i want to thank all of those who showed at calling hours.. it meant alot to my family and i.
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Posted by: Jim Varney Family on Mar 3, 2009 at 03:38 PM

Our family just recently heard the devastating news about Rich. To the Boyes Family, we are so saddened by this. No amount of words can heal the pain you have suffered, but all of you are in our prayers. Jim and Lisa Varney Lodi, OH
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: chris collins on Jan 16, 2009 at 11:55 AM

well this past tuesday was hard,it was the last time we got to see richard but not how we wanted to see him.I think back on all the sweet memorys of rich,so many good times we had.One of my favorit times was him and i having a tolit paper fight with our kids,we fliped coffee tables and made baracades and went to war with them it was funny!!thoes kids were tuff but i think we took them...lol.we use to have alot of bon fires to and we would race his cars in the back feild...that was fun!!and when we didnt have nouthing to do we'd do it together.we worked together,we played together,we even lived together.it was never boring with rich around,he wouldnt let that happen!!we sang dumb songs together adding our own words ofcourse..lol rich had no fear and what ever made us laugh thats what we did!! i miss that so much.i have all theese great memorys of him and the things we would do and its the best,but it hurts to..the worst is staring at this card that says in memory of Richard Shane Boyes.
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