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Switched at birth: Catholic diocese sued for giving babies to wrong families in 1942

A lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston claims two boys born at St. Joseph Hospital in Buckhannon in 1942 were switched at birth. The diocese does not comment on pending litigation, according to Tim Bishop, public information officer. John William Car III and Jackie Lee Spencer were both born on Aug. 29, 1942, and were sent home with each other’s families because of negligence and breach of duty by the obstetrical or nursing staff at the hospital, according to the suit. The switch was discovered in 2019 after a DNA test showed Carr and Spencer were ...

Man arrested after allegedly firing gun during burglary

A Morgantown man is charged with wanton endangerment after he allegedly fired a gun during a burglary. Westover Police responded to a burglary in progress with shots fired on East Street on Friday, according to a criminal complaint for Jerrid Ray Weaver, 24. It was reported about 8:37 a.m., according to a 911 supervisor. When the officer arrived at the scene, he stopped a vehicle that matched the description of the getaway car, according to the complaint. After backup arrived, the passengers were removed from the vehicle and a .22 caliber handgun and a spent shell casing were ...

Man turns himself in after murdering girlfriend’s father

A man who turned himself in to Monongalia County law enforcement for a Grafton murder was living with his victim.That’s according to Taylor County Sheriff Terry Austin.Nicholas C. Padron, 28, was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Michael Blackburn, 49.Padron was in a relationship with Blackburn’s daughter and Blackburn is the grandfather to Padron’s children, Austin said.A motive is still being developed and until all the electronic devices involved are downloaded, Austin can’t say why Padron killed Blackburn.Austin said Blackburn’s body was ...

Morgantown man charged with third degree arson after starting a dumpster fire in Sunnyside

A 22-year-old Morgantown man was charged with third-degree arson and destruction of property for a May 25 dumpster fire near 400 Beverly Ave., in Sunnyside.Following an investigation by Morgantown Fire Marshal Ken Tennant, Brenden-Tyler Griffith Soloman admitted to setting the fire, which resulted in $9,479 in damages, largely to overhead Comcast distribution lines.According to the criminal complaint, Tennant was called to the scene at about 12:45 a.m. and was provided a description of a vehicle seen leaving the area.An officer with the Morgantown Police Department located the vehicle a ...

Mon Sheriff operation arrests multiple child porn suspects

Two people have been arrested by the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department as part of an operation targeting those who distribute child pornography and more arrests are coming. During the operation, from March 13-May 28, the sheriff's department executed 26 search warrants, according to Sheriff Perry Palmer. Six were at residences and eight were for seized electronic devices. The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department is part of the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children task force and used its new computer forensic lab to examine the seized electronics, Palmer ...