Murder, felony fleeing among indictments from Taylor County grand jury

GRAFTON, W.Va. — Three murder-related charges and a felony escape were among the 44 individuals indicted by a Taylor County grand jury Monday.

John Hess, 45, of Flemington, was indicted on one count of murder, after he shot and killed his wife, Abigail Hess, 38, at the couple’s home after midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Also indicted on murder-related charges were Justin Clark and Samantha Dakon-Clark, both of Fairmont.

Justin Edward Clark, 27, is accused in the June 23, 2017 shooting of 39-year-old Frank Newbraugh. Newbraugh’s body was found near the Taylor County Animal Shelter on Riverside Road late in the evening of June 23.

Clark was also indicted on five counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm and four counts of felony child neglect.

Samantha Dakon-Clark, who was indicted on murder as a principle in the second degree, and four counts of felony child neglect, was also connected to the June murder.

Police say she drove with four children in the car to meet 39-year-old Frank Newbraugh “to help the victim with narcotics. The children were still in the vehicle when Clark shot Newbraugh in the back.

The children were still in the car when Dakon-Clark and Clark bought supplies to clean the SUV, according a previous criminal complaint.

Michael Anthony Campbell, 36, was also indicted Monday on one count of felony escape.

Campbell escaped from Pruntytown Correctional Center on Sept. 19, 2017 and was captured in December. He was serving for charges of breaking and entering and controlled substance.





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