WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — State police say justice has been served in the Timothy Kennedy murder trial over the June 2023 shooting death of Sgt. Cory Maynard.
A Mingo County jury found Kennedy, 32, guilty on all five criminal counts Monday afternoon, including first-degree murder.
Kennedy, 32, shot Mingo County resident Ben Baldwin on the afternoon of June 2 in the Beech Creek area of Mingo County. Sgt. Maynard and other troopers responded. The evidence showed Kennedy ambushed Maynard, shooting him several times.
In addition to first-degree murder, the panel convicted Kennedy on charges two counts of attempted murder, one count of armed robbery, and one count of disarming a police officer.
Kennedy faces a lifetime in prison with no chance for parole. He’ll be sentenced July 2.
West Virginia Troopers Association president Lonnie Faircloth said the verdict provided some sense of closure for many people.
“Not only for the members of the department who worked with Sgt. Maynard, all his friends and his family, but just for the community as well,” Faircloth said. “Because they suffered a tragic loss that day as well.”
The room in Mingo County Circuit Court was packed ahead of the verdict announcement. Hordes of state police troopers crowded inside the courtroom.
“That’s really special, just to show support, to show that we still support the family, and we’re there, so everyone knows that we are a collective family,” Faircloth said.
Faircloth said he knew Maynard personally. The two worked together in Martinsburg before Maynard was transferred to southern West Virginia.
“He was always a fun guy to work with, he always made the shift light-hearted, he was always nice to the community, anybody that he dealt with. As for his role in the department, I would say the same thing. It seemed as though he would always try to do the best that he could to represent the uniform.”
Faircloth said the WVTA has supported the Maynard family ever since the tragedy. He said the verdict has been a long time coming.
“Finally, three years of suffering for all of us, especially those with the family, just to get this chapter closed so that we can continue to move forward.”
West Virginia State Police Deputy Chief of Staff L.T. Goldie Jr. put out a statement on behalf of state police.
“The West Virginia State Police are pleased with the guilty verdict of Timothy Kennedy, which was reached by a Mingo County jury in the murder of our Sgt. Cory Maynard. While no verdict can erase the pain of this tragic loss, we are grateful that justice was served for Sgt. Maynard’s family, friends, and fellow troopers. Sgt. Maynard dedicated his life to protecting the citizens of West Virginia with honor, courage, and commitment, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
“We extend our continued prayers and support to his loved ones and thank the jury, prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel who worked tirelessly to ensure accountability in this case. We would also like to thank the community for their tremendous support during this difficult period.”
The WVTA also released a statement once Kennedy was found guilty on all charges Monday.
“Today, justice was served for Sgt. Cory Maynard. Timothy Kennedy has been found guilty on all charges related to the shooting and murder of Sgt. Maynard — a husband, father, brother, friend, and dedicated West Virginia State Trooper who gave his life in service to the people of this state.”
“While no verdict can ever bring Sgt. Maynard back or erase the pain his family, friends, and fellow troopers continue to carry, we are grateful that accountability was delivered. Throughout this trial, the strength and grace shown by the Maynard family has been nothing short of remarkable. We also thank everyone who stood beside them, supported law enforcement, and kept Sgt. Maynard’s memory alive.”
“Sgt. Maynard’s sacrifice will never be forgotten. His legacy continues to live on through the troopers he served beside and the countless lives he impacted. Please continue to keep the Maynard family and the West Virginia State Police in your prayers.”