New Details Released in Monongalia County, WV Shooting - WBOY - Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

New Details Released in Monongalia County, WV Shooting

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UpdateNew details released Tuesday in a quadruple homicide and subsequent suicide indicate that Jody Hunt, 39, of Westover, was upset with his ex-girlfriend, two men she was believed to have relationships with, and the owner of a rival tow truck company.

A 12-hour manhunt came to an end Monday night when Hunt was found with a self-inflicted 9 mm gunshot wound to his head in Everettville, near the border of Monongalia County and Marion County, off US Route 19.

While the bodies of Sharon Kay Berkshire, 39, of Westover and Michael David Frum, 28, of Maidsville, were first found by a nearby landlord in Cheat Lake, law enforcement was dispatched to a reported shooting at 7:42 a.m. At Doug's Towing in Westover, where owner Doug Brady was gunned down by Hunt.  After traveling to Cheat Lake and killing Berkshire and Frum, Hunt shot and killed his cousin and business partner,  Jody Taylor, 43, at his home on Sweet Pea Lane.

"Once the officers responded to the shooting in Westover and were able to view some surveillance video that's what gave us the description of the vehicle that our suspect was driving," said Sheriff Al Kisner.

Authorities looked for Hunt and his vehicle for most of the day Monday.

Berkshire filed a domestic protection order against Hunt, a convicted felon, in 2013 and again in early 2014, said Monongalia County Sheriff Al Kisner.  Berkshire later dismissed the protective orders and continued her relationship with Hunt, said Kisner.  Berkshire and Frum were in a relatively new romantic relationship, said Kisner.  Criminal records indicate that Hunt was convicted in January 1999 in Virginia on kidnapping and abduction charges.  Hunt also faced firearm and wanton endangerment charges in West Virginia and spent five years in Huttonsville Correctional Facility.  It's likely that Hunt obtained a firearm by falsifying documents or purchasing it from a person who did not require documents, said Kisner.

Hunt was expected to meet with Monongalia County Commissioner Eldon Callen to discuss towing issues Tuesday.  Hunt told commissioners he was mad about a particular towing company that recently picked up an overturned truck after hearing about it on the scanner, although Hunt claimed it was J&J Towing's turn as part of the county towing rotation.

"Jody Hunt called Eldon and felt that there was a problem that happened where another tow truck driver took his call," said Commissioner Tom Bloom. "He was very angry and wanted to meet with Eldon again this week, to discuss the concerns and add more teeth to it."


Update 

Just after 7:45 p.m. Monday, West Virginia State Police confirmed that a person matching the description of suspect Jody Hunt, 39, has been located and is deceased.  The person was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in Everettville, near the border of Monongalia County and Marion County, off US Route 19.

The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department said in a press release that Hunt was located in a rural area of Monongalia County with a "self inflicted gunshot wound to the head." 

Stay with 12 News for updates.

Update

Monongalia County law enforcement agencies are investigating three shootings that killed four people in the county Monday morning.

The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department is investigating a shooting on Sweet Pea Lane that sent one person to Ruby Memorial Hospital. That person has been identified as Jody Taylor, 43, of Monongalia County.  Taylor died from injuries he received from the gunshot wound. Taylor has been identified to be a co-owner of J&J towing company, the same company that Jody Hunt owned.Westover Police are investigating a shooting at Doug's Towing and West Virginia State Police are investigating a shooting at Sunset Beach Road, Cheat Lake, said Monongalia County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Perry Palmer.  Two of the deceased victims in the Cheat Lake shooting were identified by State Police as Sharon Kay Berkshire, 39, of Westover and Michael David Frum, 28, of Maidsville. Another victim, Doug Brady, owner of Doug's Towing, was confirmed dead by State Police on Monday evening.

Frum's family said in a press release on Monday evening, 

“The outpouring of support shown to our family by today's events is greatly appreciated and overwhelming. Mike was a loving, father, son, and brother whose family meant everything to him. Plans for a public visitation and funeral service will be announced when all details have been finalized. While we appreciate the love and support shown to us by our friends and the community, we ask that our privacy at this time be respected, so that we can properly grieve our loss.”

Original

West Virginia State Police are searching for shooting suspect Jody Lee Hunt, 39, of Westover.  There is probable cause that indicates the shootings are connected, said Palmer.  Law enforcement agencies are looking for Hunt's 2011 Black F150 extended cab. The truck has an unknown type sticker in back window, a black tonneau cover over the truck bed, and license plate OLK303. If you see the vehicle or Hunt,  call 911 or W.Va. State Police.

Hunt is listed as an owner of J&J Towing in Westover, according to the West Virginia Secretary of State's website.  Hunt indicated on his Facebook page that he was suffering from relationship problems Monday morning.  "My actions were not right nor were the actions of those who tried to tear me down and take from me. This was not the plan but a struggle to see that those who strives to hurt me received their fair pay of hurt like I received," said Hunt in a posting, "You will not hurt me any more. You will not destroy my soul and heart as you tried so hard to do." Another post appeared at approximately 5 p.m. Monday on Hunt's Facebook page. "I hope that everyone takes the words I love you seriously. Be honest with the one you are with. No need for a game. You either want them or u don't. Just tell them no need to lead there heart on.  I'm so sorry for my actions today and the lives I've effected. I'm so tired of the wrong doers getting by with all of it. No need for games. Life is short. Love the one you are with [sic]," he wrote.

"I called to check on my neighbor because he's not real healthy, I called him and he was shook up. He said he walked over to get the garbage and saw that laying there. He thought it was a joke, a Halloween prank. He asked me to come down, so I went down and walked over to her, touched her and I could tell it was a real body and she was dead," said John McClead, a witness following the Cheat Lake shooting. 

Multiple Monongalia County schools were under a precautionary lock down Monday while law enforcement worked to locate a possible suspect in the incident.

Check back for updates.