BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Bluefield man is facing murder charges after investigators say a missing woman’s body was discovered in a remote wooded area in Virginia following a multi-state investigation involving witness interviews, surveillance footage, cellphone tracking data, and evidence recovered from both West Virginia and Virginia.
According to investigators, the woman was reported missing on May 4 after family members in Bristol, Virginia, said they had not heard from her since April 14. Family members told police they normally communicated with her daily and quickly became concerned when all contact suddenly stopped.
Investigators said the woman moved to Bluefield in January 2026 to live with Donald Pennington after he allegedly offered her an assistant manager position at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store where he worked as manager. Family members told police she had been struggling financially before relocating to West Virginia.
During the investigation, detectives uncovered numerous messages and witness statements describing what investigators say was a deteriorating relationship between the two.
According to court documents, the woman allegedly sent messages to another man in mid-April stating:
- “I gotta get the f— away from here for real.”
- “If I don’t get the f— away from here I know it will be bad.”
Investigators said the man told police the woman described Pennington as jealous and controlling and claimed she frequently called him crying about her living situation. He also told investigators Pennington repeatedly texted her to “bring her ass home” before arriving to pick her up in a white Acura sedan on April 16 — the last time the witness reportedly saw her alive.
Police said family members also reported the woman had temporarily checked into the Quality Inn in early April because she was fearful of returning to the residence she shared with Pennington. Family members alleged she complained about ongoing arguments and emotional abuse inside the home.
Pennington later told investigators the last time he saw the woman was April 17 after she reportedly arrived intoxicated at work. According to police, Pennington claimed he drove her back to their Thorn Street residence before leaving again for work and later discovered she was gone.
The investigation took a major turn on May 12 when Pennington’s ex-girlfriend, reportedly arrived at the Bluefield Police Department and immediately told investigators, “You’re not going to find her, he murdered her.”
According to investigators, the ex claimed Pennington confessed during a meeting at Mercer Mall on April 17. Court documents state she told investigators Pennington admitted he “snapped” during an argument and allegedly grabbed the woman by the throat until she stopped breathing.
She also claimed Pennington showed her a photograph of the woman appearing dead on her cellphone and allegedly told her, “I killed her, here’s proof.”
Investigators said the ex further alleged Pennington admitted destroying the woman’s phones by soaking one in bleach for “20 some hours” and removing SIM cards from both devices.
According to court documents, she told police Pennington later claimed he wrapped the woman’s body in a rug, stored it in a bedroom closet, and eventually transported the body to a remote area near Bastian, Virginia.
Investigators said the ex described accompanying Pennington on April 24 to Lowe’s in Bluefield, Virginia, where they allegedly purchased multiple bags of Quikrete concrete before traveling to a wooded area off Round Mountain Road near Bastian.
She told investigators Pennington repeatedly entered the woods carrying bags of concrete while she waited in the vehicle. She alleged Pennington later told her he “didn’t get to finish” and hoped rain would harden the concrete.
Police later obtained Life360 tracking data from the ex’s phone that investigators say confirmed the trip timeline and locations. Surveillance footage from Lowe’s also allegedly showed Pennington and the ex purchasing four bags of concrete matching the exs’ account.
Investigators said Bland County deputies later discovered several suspicious items in the wooded area, including:
- Concrete scattered through the woods
- Plastic sheeting
- Rope
- A blue quilt tied with red rope
- Pink lace fabric believed to be women’s clothing
- Water jugs matching containers found at Pennington’s residence
- A suspected burial site marked with rocks resembling a tombstone
Authorities ultimately discovered human remains approximately a quarter-mile into the wooded area. Investigators said the body was in an advanced state of decomposition and partial skeletonization. Detectives reported observing red hair still attached to the skull and a ring still attached to one hand.
According to investigators, deputies also observed bear tracks in the area and believe animal activity may have moved the body from its original location.
Search warrants were later executed at Pennington’s residence and vehicle. Investigators removed flooring from Pennington’s bedroom and carpeting from the trunk of his Acura sedan for forensic testing. Police also recovered gallon water jugs at the residence with matching lot numbers to containers allegedly discovered near the body disposal site.
Investigators said Pennington arrived at the police department for questioning on May 12 but requested an attorney after being read his Miranda rights. He was subsequently taken into custody.
Donald Pennington has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a deceased human body.
