Tag: Coal Executive

Life Sentence for Man in W.Va. Coal Exec's Death

A second man has been sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole after 15 years in the fatal shooting of a coal executive at a West Virginia cemetery.

News outlets report Mingo Circuit Judge Miki Thompson handed down the sentence Thursday for 20-year-old Brandon Lee Fitzpatrick, of Louisa, Kentucky. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty last month in the killing of Bennett K. Hatfield, who was shot while visiting his wife’s gravesite in May 2016.

Fitzpatrick admitted he was with 22-year-old Anthony Raheem Arriaga, of Delphos, Ohio, when Arriaga killed Hatfield in a scheme to steal his GMC Yukon Denali and sell its parts. Arriaga was sentenced in December after being convicted of murder, robbery and conspiracy.

Prosecutor Duke Jewell said Fitzpatrick came up with the scheme to kill Hatfield and steal his vehicle. He said Arriaga shot Hatfield but panicked and failed to steal the vehicle.

Jury Finds Man Guilty in Longtime Coal Exec's Killing

A jury on Friday convicted the accused trigger man in the 2016 fatal shooting of a longtime coal executive in West Virginia.

According to news outlets, 22-year-old Anthony Raheem Arriaga of Ohio was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of conspiracy in the death of Bennett “Ben” Hatfield.

Hatfield, who resigned in 2015 as Patriot Coal’s president and CEO, was visiting his wife’s gravesite in Maher when he was shot.

A first-degree murder conviction carries a life prison sentence in West Virginia. Jurors were still deliberating whether Arriaga should be eligible to receive parole in 15 years.

In opening statements, Mingo County Prosecutor Duke Jewell said Arriaga told police he killed Hatfield in May 2016 in a plan to steal his SUV and sell it for parts.

Arriaga’s attorney, Jane Moran, countered in court that authorities didn’t investigate if accused co-conspirator 20-year-old Brandon Fitzpatrick, of Kentucky, could have shot Hatfield.

The case was handed over to jurors on the fifth day of the trial. The jury returned with the conviction after about four and a half hours of deliberation.

Dennis Hatfield testified in court Tuesday about finding his brother’s body near a river next to the cemetery.

Arriaga had said he had been using drugs and had little sleep over several days.

In April, Arriaga pleaded guilty to murder and robbery charges in April, but later withdrew his plea. He said at trial that Fitzpatrick was the one who shot the gun.

Fitzpatrick heads to trial on a murder charge next month.

Weekend Arrangements Set for Slain West Virginia Coal CEO

Slain coal executive Bennett Hatfield will be buried this weekend in southern West Virginia.

His obituary says friends can visit the family at River Ridge Church in Charleston on Saturday evening.

The funeral will be Sunday afternoon at the Regional Church of God at Delbarton.

The 59-year-old will be buried at Mountain View Memory Gardens in Maher, where he was found dead Monday.

Police say two men charged in Hatfield’s death wanted to steal his vehicle and sell it.

Authorities say Hatfield was visiting his wife’s gravesite at the graveyard when he was shot and killed. His SUV was found nearby.

Twenty-year-old Anthony Arriaga and eighteen-year-old Brandon Lee Fitzpatrick are charged with first-degree murder.

Hatfield resigned last year as president and CEO of Patriot Coal.

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