A Pennsylvania man has confessed to his involvement in a high profile fatal hunting accident in Lewis County.
West Virginia State Police say 58-year old Robert Tobias of Millersburg, Pennsylvania admitted to State Police and DNR Conservation Officers that he fired the shot that killed 31-year old Shawn Stewart of Walkersville.
Stewart suffered a fatal shotgun blast to the head on the opening day of Spring Gobbler season while hunting in the Vandalia Bay area of the Stonewall Jackson Wildlife Management Area.
The discovery of Stewart’s body followed more than a day of searching by hundreds of volunteers. During that search, an article of clothing was also found.
Troopers used that piece of hunting clothing discovered in Charles Cove Run area to track down Tobias as their lead suspect.
Investigators were able to trace the newly purchased item to a nearby sporting goods store. Video surveillance from that store helped identify Tobias as the purchaser and identify the truck he was driving.
The compact truck with a wooden rack was the same vehicle Stewart’s hunting companions described seeing in the Vandalia Bay parking area on the day of the shooting and the Sunday before the opening day of the season.
When questioned by troopers about the clothing, Tobias indicated he had lost such a piece of gear while hunting at Stonewall. Soon after their initial questioning, Tobias retained an attorney. During a meeting this week with Tobias and his lawyer in Pennsylvania, troopers say Tobias confessed to the fatal shooting.
DNA tests on Tobias and evidence from the scene are pending, but investigators say they are confident they will match the suspect.
Tobias faces charges that will soon be filed in Lewis County Circuit Court over Stewart’s death.
State Police say he’s cooperating fully with the investigation.