WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A grand jury in Mingo County will determine the fate of two men charged with murder in connection to the death of former coal executive Ben Hatfield.
Anthony Arriaga, 20, Delphos, Oh., had his case bound over to the jury during a Wednesday hearing in Williamson.
Brandon Fitzpatrick, 18, of Louisa, Ky., is accused of being with Arriaga during the time of the murder last month. Fitzpatrick waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday in Mingo County Magistrate Court.
Mingo County sheriff’s deputy Allen Mounts said during his testimony that Arriaga had admitted to killing Hatfield and that Fitzpatrick had conspired to rob and kill Hatfield.
Hatfield’s body was found May 23 at the Mountain View Memory Gardens Cemetery near Williamson. Police said Hatfield was there visiting the grave sites of family members when Arriaga allegedly shot him from behind in an attempt to rob him.
A third defendant, Ricky Peterson, 20, of Wayne, was charged with accessory after the fact and for providing false information to police following the shooting.