Guilty verdict issued in case for DUI Resulting in Death

WELCH, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A guilty verdict was issued in the Wednesday hearing of a McDowell County woman facing charges of DUI Resulting in Death.

Susan Shepherd was found guilty in McDowell County Circuit Court on Wednesday on charges stemming from a June, 2019 motor vehicle accident resulting in the death of Eric Presley, also of McDowell County.

The incident occured in the Iaeger area along Route 52, and resulted in Presley being airlifted to Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) for emergency care, where he would later succumb to his injuries.

The jury wasted little time in determining a verdict, delivering a decision after just 15 minutes of deliberation.

Circuit Judge Rudolph Murensky II oversaw the proceedings, and the case was tried by McDowell County Prosecuting Attorney Brittany Puckett.

Sentencing will take place at a motions hearing scheduled to be held on July 12, at which point Shepard could face prison time of 3 to 15 years.

Shepard is currently out on bond, and is under home confinement.

The lead investigator on this case was McDowell County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. R.L. Blevins.