CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County man whose wife has been missing since May 2016 was arrested Friday and charged with fraud.
It’s alleged Owen Woods, 39, of Charleston, used his missing wife’s debt card after she went missing and spent down the account until a bank froze the account.
Woods denied the charges when speaking with reporters before his arraignment.
“It was a debit card. She’s the only one that had an account. All my money went to her account,” Woods said.
Search warrants issued previously in connection with the disappearance of Starina Woods have said Owen Woods never reported his wife missing or tried to contact her after she disappeared. Police have also said they found blood stains at the couple’s home and what appeared to be attempts to clean up blood.
A reporter asked Woods Friday if he killed his wife.
“I did not. Absolutely not,” Woods said.
“Any idea where she is?” The reporter asked.
“No ma’am, I don’t,” he said.
Woods also said he didn’t know anything about the alleged crime scene in his house.
Woods was in uniform when he was arraigned. He is a member of the West Virginia Air National Guard.
The magistrate set bail at $50,000 cash.