CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There will likely be a criminal charge filed in connection with a Charleston man’s death but the charge probably won’t be murder, Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said Thursday.
Police received identification confirmation from the state Medical Examiner’s Office this week that the body they found in a West Side residence on May 28 was that of James Randolph Cook, 53. His body was badly decomposed when it was located in a vacant Maryland Ave. residence where Cook and others had been squatting, Cooper said.
Investigators are awaiting further information from the medical examiner before filing charges. It appears Cook’s body was moved after his death, Cooper said Thursday on 580 WCHS Radio’s 580-Live show with Mayor Danny Jones.
“We believe his body was hidden and he may have died from something other than a homicide,” Cooper said.
Cooper would not elaborate because of the information detectives were still waiting on from the medical examiner.
Police were “well-acquainted” with Cook, Cooper said.