Morgantown man implicated in Preston County murder case

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. – A Morgantown man has been charged in connection with the murder of a Maryland man in Preston County.

Detectives from Garrett County say Andrew Wassick, 24, of Morgantown, Dashawn Scott, 25 and Roy Cheshire, 20, located Jimmy Barkley in Oakland, Maryland and brought him to a cabin in Preston County for “retribution.” The three suspects stripped Barkley and tied him up before turning him over to Damon Hudgens, 20, of Detroit, Michigan. Shortly after they turned Barkley over to Hudgens multiple ginshots were reported.

A day later, Hudgens, Darrell Pettaway, 31, of Detroit, Wassick and Kathryn Rodriguez, 38, both of Morgantown, were arrested by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force in multiple operations.

As a result of the investigation, detectives learned about the crime scene in Preston County and responded with sheriff’s deputies and K-9 units from the Grafton Volunteer Fire Department. The team located Barkley who was deceased and turned the crime scene over to the West Virginia State Police.

Detectives say multiple witnesses have identified Hudgens as the shooter who killed Barkley.

Wassick, Scott and Cheshire have been charged with kidnapping and assault. Hudgens has been charged with first degree murder.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.