FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A woman was arrested Friday afternoon after state troopers responded to a reported burglary in progress at a residence in Fayette County.
According to the West Virginia State Police, troopers were dispatched at approximately 3:50 p.m. on January 24, 2026, to a home located at 3007 Gauley River Road in Boomer.
The homeowners, Rachel Shamblin and her husband, Hayes Shamblin, contacted authorities after spotting an unknown individual dressed in dark clothing attempting to break into their property. The couple was not home at the time but observed the incident through security cameras installed at the residence.
Troopers responded to the scene and found a broken window at the back of the home along with bags of clothing left outside. While checking the residence, Trooper M.M. Ferris located the suspect, identified as Melissa Harper, hiding underneath a kitchen table inside the home.
Harper was taken into custody and advised of her Miranda rights once she was safely removed from the residence. Investigators later reviewed images from the homeowners’ security cameras, which reportedly showed the suspect walking up the driveway and entering the home through the rear of the residence.
Harper was transported to the West Virginia State Police Oak Hill Detachment for processing. The incident remains under investigation.
