CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A man accused in the killing of a Harrison County man who was beaten, drowned in a pond and left for dead will stand trial beginning Monday.
Shane Andrew Miller, 22, of Lumberport, is facing murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges.
In March 2014, the body of Darrell Golden, 57, of Clarksburg was found floating in
a pond along Jones Run Road three days after he had been reported as missing.
Police alleged that Miller hit Golden over the head with a bottle, dragged his body to the water and then his accomplice and at the time fiance, Tracy Boals, held Golden’s head under water until he was dead.
The body was left underwater and only discovered when water levels fell and Golden was discovered by a fisherman.
Investigators believe the motivations was retaliation for Golden speaking to police and preventing him from elaborating further into a March 2014 break in at a business in downtown Clarksburg.
Had Miller been implicated in the crime, his probation for a previous conviction related to robbery and daytime burglary would have been revoked, possibly sending him to prison for multiple decades.
Police were able to tie Miller and Boals to the crime after the two reportedly left their bloody clothes at the scene and an attempt was made to clean blood out of their vehicle.
After the two were charged with the crime, Miller married Boals in hopes that it would prevent her from testifying against him. However, the statute does not apply for crimes that are allegedly committed together.
In July, Boals –who has since divorced Shane— entered into a deal with the state, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced in August to 15 years in prison with a chance at parole after four years.
She has agreed to fully cooperate in the case against Miller
Both the prosecution and defense are anticipating Shane’s trial to last approximately five days.