LEWISBURG, W.Va. — A Texas man, now in jail for the 2007 murder of a Greenbrier County man, once lived in Greenbrier County and knew the victim, according to Greenbrier County Prosecutor Patrick Via.
Charles Michael “Cason” Kessinger, 39, of San Antonio, is being held in the Southern Regional Jail without bail after being arraigned Thursday on first degree murder and first degree robbery charges.
Kessinger was recently indicted in the death of James Johansen of Lewisburg. Johansen was reported missing in June 2007. His remains were found near Muddy Creek Mountain, about eight miles from Lewisburg, last fall.
Via provided additional information about the case to MetroNews Friday.
It’s alleged Kessinger killed Johansen on June 13, 2007 while robbing him of his 1995 Dodge Neon.
“The robbery and the allegation of murder were a result of a singular transaction of events between these two individuals,” Via said.
Johansen’s disappearance was originally treated as a missing persons case. Via said state police troopers interviewed a number of people in the early stages of the investigation including Kessinger.
“I would say that he was part of a substantial number of people that were subjected to and agreed to provide interviews and information,” Via said.
At some point, Kessinger moved to Texas. When the skeletal remains were found last year and confirmed to be Johansen, troopers used what are described as new and old leads to link Kessinger to the robbery and death. Via said more specifics about how the connection was made will come out at at later date.
Troopers made three trips to Texas during the past several months. Kessinger was arrested in recent weeks. He then waived extradition.
Via credits state police troopers, several who have either retired or moved on to other assignments, for never giving up on the case.
“The case was never cast aside and of course in the last 14 months or so, major breaks in the case,” Via said. “The case was never cast aside and that’s the key. We are where we are today because the case was never cast aside,” Via said.
Kessinger is in the Southern Regional Jail without bail following Thursday’s arraignment. His next court appearance is set for Dec. 20.
Via also credits the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department for its work at the location where the remains were discovered.