PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Authorities are investigating the death of a woman found in a Princeton motel room, where evidence suggests a violent altercation occurred. Officers with the Princeton Police Department responded to the Budget Inn at 409 Thorn Street on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at approximately 12:44 p.m., following reports of a deceased person and a destroyed room.
Upon arrival, officers were informed that a man wearing a green shirt and jacket had fled the scene. Timothy Bell, later identified as the suspect, was detained near the intersection of Kee Street and Westview Avenue and transported back to the motel.
Inside Room 110, police discovered the body of Mary Diane Price lying on a mattress moved to the center of the room. Her injuries included severe bruising and contusions to her head and face, with her eyes swollen shut and blood present in her eye sockets. The room was in disarray, with flooding from the bathroom and damaged furniture, indicating signs of a violent struggle.
Bell, who had defensive scratches on his face and injuries to his hands, was taken to the Princeton Police Department for questioning. During the interview, Bell reportedly admitted to an altercation with Price the previous night, claiming both had been using methamphetamine. He stated that an argument escalated into a physical fight, during which Price scratched him. Bell claimed he “blacked out” and awoke the following morning to find Price unresponsive and partially off the mattress.
Bell told investigators he attempted CPR but was unsuccessful. He allegedly covered Price’s body with clothing and a towel due to her state of undress and began cleaning the room, citing concerns about “DNA” and its condition.
Management at the Budget Inn said they knocked on the door of Room 110 after noticing irregularities and discovered Price’s body through the doorway. Bell initially asked them to call an ambulance for his “wife” but insisted the police were unnecessary. Moments later, Bell left the premises under the pretense of taking jewelry to his brother’s house.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud commotion from Room 110 at approximately 10:00 p.m. the previous night, consistent with Bell’s timeline. The medical examiner on the scene estimated Price had been deceased for 12-18 hours before being discovered.
The motel’s management reported damages to the room estimated at $5,500.
Based on evidence, witness statements, and Bell’s admission, police believe that Bell brutally assaulted Price, leading to her death.
