The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

June 12, 2008

Authorities release new details in 2007 beating deaths

Nicholas chief deputy says double murder remains under active investigation

By Amelia A. Pridemore

Police investigating a year-old unsolved double murder say the case remains active, with officers conducting interviews outside the region.

Authorities have also released new details about the Nicholas County case.

Richwood area residents Howard Delp, 73, and April Moore, 29, were found beaten to death May 28, 2007 — Memorial Day. The bodies were discovered at Delp’s residence on Panther Creek Road near Nettie.

“We are still working it, we’ve been working and we’ve been working it. I don’t know how many hundreds of hours,” sheriff’s Chief Deputy Wayne Plummer said. “We just don’t have enough for an arrest right now.”

Investigators were in the northern region of the state Thursday conducting interviews, Plummer said. Possible suspects have been developed, and investigators now believe multiple suspects are involved. The investigators are also awaiting possible DNA evidence to return.

The likely motives are both drugs and robbery, Plummer said. Delp, he said, was a known oxycodone dealer authorities had encountered in the past.

“He was definitely a member of the drug trade,” Plummer said.

Delp was known to keep a “stash” of both drugs and money — which were not found after he and Moore were killed, Plummer said.

Moore, however, was not known by law enforcement officers before the homicides, Plummer said. Investigators only know both she and Delp were staying at the residence where they were found. They have not determined the nature of her relationship with Delp.

“We don’t know if they were a couple, just living together — we don’t know,” Plummer said.

Plummer said authorities still receive tips and no stone has been unturned. He encouraged anyone with information about the case to call the sheriff’s department at 872-7880.

The Central West Virginia Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force is handling the investigation, with assistance from the sheriff’s department and State Police.

“We are still working it hard,” Plummer said. “We have checked out everything — every rumor.”

-- E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com

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