VALLEY BEND, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man arrested in relation to a Breaking and Entering incident now faces several additional charges upon confirmation of blood sample match through DNA testing.
Deputy J. Wolfe of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office reports that on April 13, 2022, Deputy Wolfe and Cpl. Carr responded to a Breaking and Entering incident at a Valley Bend Residence which had been reported by the Randolph County 911 Center.
Arriving at the residence and speaking with the homeowner, authorities were advised that loud banging noises could be heard from the front door through the night.
The door itself exhibited fingerprints, and shoeprints were also visible. Multiple entry points around the residence were also found to exhibit blood. Blood swabs were obtained for DNA evidence, and Chief Deputy Sharp arrived on the scene which officers had begun processing.
Later that same day, Randolph County 911 reported a Breaking and Entering incident at a neighboring residence.
Deputy Wolfe, along with Cpl. Carr and Senior Deputy A. Channell made their way to the scene and could see that the front door of the residence had been damaged, and that the glass window had been broken.
Multiple 9MM casings could be seen along the entry way of the residence, and directly inside the residence there appeared to be bullet holes in the wall. This scene was also processed. Fingerprints were obtained along with the bullets in the wall and the 9MM casings.
The caller from the original residence called once more on this same day, advising that a 9MM casing had been found on his porch along with a bullet within the locking mechanism of his front door. This evidence was collected by officers.
Shortly after, the caller from the second residence called about video footage obtained from the security cameras within his home which, when viewed by officers, revealed a male who appeared to be wearing a white shirt and white had walking through the residence.
Authorities received a call from Kenneth Walther who advised that his son Joshua had arrived at his residence and had stolen his 9MM handgun which was covered in blood.
Joshua Walther was arrested in reference to a case investigated by Deputy Beverly and was seen to have a large laceration on his right hand.
A search warrant on Walther’s residence was executed by Deputy Wolfe and Cpl. Carr, which resulted in the discovery of the aforementioned 9MM firearm in Walther’s bedroom, along with multiple items covered in blood and a white t-shirt and white hat matching those shown in the aforementioned video footage.
DNA evidence was submitted to the West Virginia State Police Laboratory and a search warrant for Walther’s DNA and an oral swab was obtained and submitted to the lab as well.
I letter was received by Deputy Wolfe in November 2022 advising that the blood evidence obtained at the initial crime scene was a match to Walther’s DNA.
Criminal complaints for Joshua Walther were completed and the Randolph County Magistrate issued warrants for the charges of Burglary, Attempted Burglary, two counts of Wanton Endangerment with a Firearm, and two counts of Using a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.
All the above listed charges are Felony offenses and Walther is currently at Tygart Valley Regional Jail. All warrants have been executed.
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