SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — A criminal complaint filed in Nicholas County Magistrate Court detailed the discovery of a set of human remains believed to belong to a woman who had been reported missing by her mother.
Staci Wind, 50, of Richwood, filed a missing persons report with the Richwood Police Department on Monday, May 18. Wind claimed her daughter, Ayla Wind, 26, had been missing since Friday, May 15.
The missing persons case took a radically different turn three days later.
On Friday, May 21, a set of human remains were discovered in the Summit Lake area of Greenbrier County. State Police reported the remains were dumped and covered in a shallow grave near the lake and two ferns had been planted on top of the grave. The criminal complaint filed in Nicholas County Magistrate Court revealed near the shallow grave, troopers located a burn area. Amid the ashes of the fire location, investigators found human bones and a cell phone which matched the description of one owned by Ayla Wind. Investigators also discovered wood chips and charcoal at the location.
In the shallow grave was a burned tarp and what appeared to be a bed sheet with blood on it.
State Police Sgt. D.L. Gordon noted in the criminal complaint he obtained a search warrant for the home of Staci Wind on Saturday, May 23. The State Police Crime Scene Unit visited the home and collected evidence from the house and Wind’s pickup truck.
According to the criminal complaint, blood stains were found in several areas of the home. In the bed of the truck, investigators discovered two empty plant baskets which matched the size of the two ferns. Gordon added in the criminal complaint a child’s booster seat was in the truck which matched a booster seat manual which was found in the area of the burn back in Greenbrier County.
Staci Wind when questioned by troopers said she had purchased charcoal, lighter fluid, and wood chips while travelling to Summit Lake a week earlier for a camping trip. She claimed to have camped out in her truck.
Troopers also noted in the criminal complaint Wind claimed a mattress which belonged to Ayla Wind had been given to an unknown man earlier in the week. However, a cut up mattress with blood stains was discovered in a garbage bag at the home. Troopers said bloody hand prints were also discovered on the walls of the victim’s bedroom.
Staci Wind was taken into custody and charged with first degree murder. She’s being held without bail in the Central Regional Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday in Nicholas County Magistrate Court.