CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County man will spend life in prison with mercy in connection with the 2014 shooting death of his sister.
Glenn Skidmore, 43, both pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday in Kanawha County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty to first degree murder and second recidivist by way of information. The recidivist conviction adds five years to the minimum parole eligibility. Skidmore was sentenced to life in prison. He will have a chance for parole after 20 years..
The shooting took place at 170 Greenwood Avenue in Mink Shoals on Dec. 29, 2014. Skidmore’s sister, Michelle Skidmore, 35, was shot and killed. She was found dead inside the home.
During a Monday court hearing, Skidmore apologized to his family, including his nephew Jonathan Skidmore, 20, who he also shot.
“I’d like to apologize to my family, especially Jonathan. I can’t imagine what he’s going through, but I do want to tell him I’m sorry,” he said.
Jonathan Skidmore addressed the court saying him and his mother took care of his uncle and allowed him to live with them for free. He said his uncle completely took advantage of them.
“We were trying to get you back on your feet and you just came in and killed my mother and shot me just for money? We were doing all we could to help you because you were family and you destroyed that,” said Jonathan Skidmore.
“Now you’re going to have to live it it and now I’m going to have to live with the wounds that I sustained, but I’m living with mine fine. I don’t know how you’re going to live with yours.”
Kanawha County Assistant Prosector Maryclaire Akers said Glenn Skidmore shot Michelle Skidmore five times in the head with a .45 caliber handgun that was kept in the house. Jonathan Skidmore, then 17, was also shot multiple times and was bleeding profusely when deputies arrived on scene.
“An autopsy performed by the West Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Miss Skidmore had been shot five times to her head and the trunk area of her body. Noteably, she had been shot at close range in the head,” Akers told the court.
Deputies with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said Skidmore stole several guns from the home along with Michelle Skidmore’s vehicle.
Skidmore was apprehended by State Police in Logan County the next day inside his sister’s vehicle.
“Inside the vehicle was the .45 caliber murder weapon and auto ordinance pistol, three other firearms, two other shotguns which were matching,” Akers said. Michelle Skidmore’s credit cards, along with receipts from purchases with those credit cards, were also located inside the vehicle.
Skidmore was previously convicted of embezzlement and was sentenced to 1-10 years in prison. He was discharged in Sept. 2013.