Man charged with First-Degree Murder in Wyoming County

MABEN, WV (WVNS) — A man was arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder in Wyoming County after shooting a woman with a shotgun.

According to a criminal complaint, troopers with the West Virginia State Police responded to a house in the Maben area of Wyoming County around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2024 due to reports of a shooting.

The criminal complaint, as well as information from the West Virginia State Police, stated that 62-year-old Timothy Bennett called Wyoming County 911 and said that he shot his girlfriend, 72-year-old Brenda Tilley, of Maben, in the face.

Bennett was still on the phone with dispatchers at the time when troopers arrived on scene and he was told to leave the house with empty hands. Bennett was taken into custody without issue by troopers once he was outside.

When troopers entered the house, they found that Bennett’s girlfriend was dead from her injuries.

According to Bennett, he was arguing with his girlfriend and when they went to separate rooms, he ended up in a room with a shotgun. He then went and shot his girlfriend, and told troopers that he was mad enough that he shot her a second time.

Bennett was then arrested and taken to the Jesse Detachment of the West Virginia State Police.

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