GRAFTON, W.Va. — A Taylor County woman has been arrested on charges related to the 2012 death of her husband.
Samantha E. Metzgar, 33, of Grafton, was indicted by a grand jury called into session for this one case Thursday, arrested at her home shortly after and then arraigned Friday morning.
She is accused of shooting Benjamin Adam Cooper, a Clarksburg resident and 24 at the time, in the back of the head with a pistol and leaving him dead at the scene near the Boothsville area.
Police believe Metzgar was motivated by Cooper’s attempt to end the marriage.
His death was originally thought to be a suicide in January of 2012, but State Police, led by Cpl. J.G. Daugherty, continued investigating the case. After interviewing approximately 30 witnesses and recently receiving expert reports on the evidence, authorities believed the the incident was a murder.
Metzgar pleaded innocent Friday morning before Taylor County Circuit Court Judge Alan Moats to charges of first degree murder.
She will continue to be held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail. Bail was not immediately set, leaving the option to file a motion to that end to Metzgar’s legal representation.
No hearing dates were immediately set after the arraignment.