On Wednesday, United States Senator Jay Rockfeller's officed issued the following statement in the torture of Megan Williams in a home in Logan County for the past week.

"I was angry to hear about the unspeakable violence and hatred that occurred in Logan County. My heart and prayers go out to Ms. Williams and her entire family. No one should ever have to endure what she was put through, and I know that all West Virginians share in my sense of outrage and sadness.

"Those who did these things deserve to be punished. We must send a message to the world that these types of heinous crimes have no place in our society. In West Virginia, we will join together as a community to help begin the healing process and to take action so this can never happen again."

--Jay Rockefeller

Then, late Thursday, Senator Rockefeller issued a new and updated statement to reporters.

“As additional details emerge about this horrific case, I am even angrier and more disgusted that this terrible crime could happen to anyone in our state. It hurts me to my soul that a young West Virginian has suffered this appalling and awful sequence of events.

“Even as our thoughts and prayers go first to the victim, I know the West Virginia way is to reach out in our communities and protect each other, and this will help to heal the wounds left by this vicious attack.”

--Jay Rockefeller

Thursday, United States Senator Robert Byrd issued his own statement.

“Make no mistake about it. What happened in Logan County to Megan Williams is a despicable outrage. There is simply no place in our society for this kind of inhuman violence and hatred against any man, woman, or child. Those responsible for causing such terrible pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and be severely punished. No human being should ever be treated with such cruelty and disrespect. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Megan Williams.”

--Robert Byrd

Byrd's comments come one day after he was criticized in a national column for not speaking up about the situation. Read that commentary on the link below.