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Beth Sergent

bsergent@heartlandpublications.com

POINT PLEASANT — Sunday turned tragic for one family when Ronald Jarrell, 45, Point Pleasant, was found shot to death at his home on Ripley Rd. with authorities later arresting a juvenile relative for the crime.

Jarrell was found deceased on Sunday at his residence just outside of Point Pleasant at 9188 Ripley Rd. by personnel with the Mason County Sheriff’s Department which is leading the investigation.

During the course of the investigation, a statement from the Mason County Sheriff’s Department says the juvenile relative was developed as a suspect and had apparently fled in Jarrell’s vehicle after the murder. A Be On The Look Out (B.O.L.O.) was issued for the vehicle to surrounding law enforcement.

According to Sgt. E.B. Starcher with the Mason County Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, the juvenile relative ended up being apprehended on Sunday by Huntington City Police within the city limits of Huntington. Sgt. Michael Baylous, public information officer with the West Virginia State Police, said the juvenile was apprehended without incident and was later transported to the Huntington Detachment of the W.Va. State Police. The state police, including those with the Mason County Detachment, and personnel with the state police crime lab, are also assisting in the investigation. A handgun appears to have been used in the crime, according to Baylous.

The juvenile has been transported to a secure juvenile detention facility in Dunbar and according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, will be facing charges of murder, grand larceny and petit larceny. The juvenile will be held at the facility pending an initial appearance in Mason County Circuit Court on the charges. A press release from the WVSP also states the juvenile could be facing charges in Cabell County, as well.

The sheriff’s department expressed their gratitude to the West Virginia State Police and Huntington Police Department for their cooperation and assistance. Cpt. Carl Peterson is the lead investigator for the sheriff’s department.

This is the fifth murder in Mason County in a year and a half.