PHILIPPI, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A disturbing case of kidnapping and drug abuse is under investigation after a man told police he was held against his will and forced to consume methamphetamine for two days straight in Barbour County.
On Friday, July 19, 2025, officers responded to the area near Arden Church in Philippi after receiving a report of a man possibly suffering from altered mental status. When they arrived, they found David Campbell near the river — shaken, but coherent — with a shocking story to tell.
Campbell claimed he had been kidnapped by a man known as “Jungle” Bennett, later identified as Joshua Bennett, after meeting him through the dating app Grindr. Campbell said Bennett picked him up at his residence in Elkins and drove him to a home located at 41 Allen Hill Road in Philippi.
During the trip, Campbell said he asked to be let out of the vehicle three separate times, but Bennett refused. Once at the home, Campbell reported being force-fed methamphetamine over a two-day period and witnessing several others in the residence using the drug.
Campbell also claimed that Bennett threatened to tie him up and violently attacked him, stating that if he tried to leave, Bennett would punch him with rings on his fingers and smash his head on a rock. Fearing for his life, Campbell waited until everyone in the house fell asleep before managing to escape and call 911.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident. Charges against Joshua “Jungle” Bennett are expected pending further interviews and evidence collection.
If you or someone you know is a victim of kidnapping or abuse, contact local law enforcement immediately or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
