WESTON, W.VA. — A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5 to consider a motion to continue the trial of Lena Lunsford Conaway on charges connected with the alleged death of her child.
Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Christina Flanigan filed a motion Tuesday requesting the continuance for Lunsford Conaway’s case, which was originally scheduled for trial Oct. 12.
Lunsford Conaway, 34, formerly of Lewis County, is charged in the 2011 disappearance and presumed death of her then 3-year-old daughter Aliayah Lunsford.
Police issued a warrant for Lunsford’s arrest last November. She was arrested by local authorities in Pinellas County, Florida, and extradited the next day.
Defense Attorney Tom Dyer said a request for continuance is not atypical for a case of this size.
“This thing is so huge it’s been difficult to understand everyone’s position and theory on the case because everyone has different theories,” Dyer said. “This has been quite a case for my office.”
Dyer said there are almost 100 witnesses in Lunsford Conaway’s trial, creating more than 450 hours of information on disc, compared to the 20 to 40 hours his office would typically see.
If Lewis County Circuit Judge Jacob Reger grants the request, Dyer expects the trial to be held right after the first of the year.
“Then we’ll be back to addressing the venue issue,” he said.