Associated Press Published

Coal Exec Shooting Death Cases Heading to Grand Jury

bennett_hatfield.jpg

A suspect has waived his preliminary hearing in the fatal shooting of an ex-coal CEO at a southern West Virginia cemetery.

Twenty-year-old Anthony Arriaga of Delphos, Ohio, was in Mingo County Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

Eighteen-year-old Brandon Fitzpatrick of Louisa, Kentucky, waived his hearing Tuesday. Both cases head to a September grand jury.

Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty June 13 to first-degree murder and conspiracy charges. Arriaga’s lawyers pleaded not guilty May 26 on his behalf to a first-degree murder charge.

The body of 59-year-old Bennett Hatfield was found May 25 at a cemetery where he was visiting his wife’s grave. His SUV was found nearby. Authorities believe Arriaga and Fitzpatrick plotted to steal Hatfield’s SUV and sell its parts.

Hatfield resigned in 2015 as Patriot Coal’s president and CEO.