Sgt. Cory Maynard Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Suspect In Trooper’s Murder To Undergo Mental Evaluation

Mingo County Circuit Clerk Lonnie Hannah confirmed that a bond hearing for 29-year-old Timothy Kennedy scheduled for June 26 is now on hold, pending a mental health evaluation.

Kennedy is charged with first-degree murder in the June 2 shooting death of West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard.

Police say Kennedy shot and killed Maynard, who was responding to a shots fired call, in what appears to have been an ambush set up for responding officers. Maynard was captured after police say he stole a car and a seven hour manhunt.

Kennedy is also the suspect in the June 2 shooting of 39-year-old Benjamin Baldwin of Matewan. Police said to expect more charges against Kennedy.

Mingo County Prosecutor Duke Jewell previously said all charges beyond the first-degree murder charge will be addressed after the evidence is fully analyzed.

Kennedy remains jailed without bond, pending the outcome of the mental health evaluation.

State Trooper Murder Case Goes To Grand Jury

In Mingo County Magistrate Court on Friday, 29-year-old Timothy Kennedy, of Matewan, waived his right to a preliminary hearing. The first-degree murder case now goes to a grand jury, which will decide if there’s enough evidence to indict Kennedy. A special grand jury could be called to consider the case.

Police say Kennedy shot and killed State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard, who was responding to a shots fired call, in an ambush-type setting one week ago.

Kennedy, who fled the scene on foot, was arrested just before 11 p.m. on Friday, June 2, after a seven-hour manhunt. Police say he was found in a stolen vehicle.

Mingo County Prosecutor Duke Jewell said he’ll now proceed – in what he calls a very complex murder case – to make a fully informed Grand Jury indictment presentation.

“In real time, a week ago today, when these horrific events were happening, the State Police’s top priority was, of course, public safety,” Jewell said. “It’s a first degree murder charge. The amount of evidence that’s going to be reviewed, analyzed, and some of it submitted for forensic testing, that’s going to take time and increase the complexity.”

Court records show that Kennedy previously had a sexual assault against a minor charge dropped and had been found trespassing in a closed coal mine with evidence of copper removal. He had been shot at while fleeing from police as well.

Kennedy is also the suspect in the last Friday afternoon shooting of 39-year-old Benjamin Baldwin, 39, of Matewan who remains in a Charleston hospital in serious but stable condition. Police have said to expect more charges against Kennedy.

Jewell said all charges beyond the first-degree murder charge will be addressed after the evidence is fully analyzed.

Kennedy was returned to the Southwestern Regional Jail where he’s being held without bond. Jewell said in first-degree murder cases, bond is discretionary.

“There’s no bond,” Jewell said. “That allows the public to be protected. We don’t have to worry about any future crimes and the state police can focus on the investigation.”

Maynard was killed just two days before the Patrol Officer Cassie Marie Johnson Act, Senate Bill 490, became effective 90 days from passage. Named for slain Charleston Police Officer Cassie Johnson, the law establishes the criminal penalty for killing a law enforcement officer, or any first responder, as life imprisonment with parole eligibility after service of 15 years. The law effectively takes away the premeditated burden of proof. Jewell said the law was likely not applicable here.

“I have not reviewed the final print version of that but I can’t imagine it would be retroactive,” he said. “That’s the law as it existed at the time the crimes were committed. That’s the law applicable to the case.”

Two of Maynard’s many close friends, Jimmy Copley and Shawn Marcum, who attended Maynard’s Memorial Service Wednesday, sat motionless in the courtroom. Marcum said he struggled to think about what might constitute justice in this case.

“There’s just too many emotions right now to know what would even be considered justice for this process,” he said.

Jewell said the first-degree murder case against Kennedy could be ready for grand jury presentation as early as September, but qualified that statement, saying sometime between September and January.

State Trooper Memorial Service, Latest Us & Them And Understanding Drug Epidemic Buzzwords, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, hundreds from close to home and around the nation attended the memorial service for slain West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard. Randy Yohe spoke with some of those who came to honor the life and legacy of a beloved trooper who was shot and killed in the line of duty last Friday.

On this West Virginia Morning, hundreds of thousands of people are seeking political asylum in the U.S. Many, including folk musician Larry Bellorin, are waiting for an interview with U.S. immigration agents.

In our latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with Bellorin and his performing partner Joe Troop who make up the duo Larry & Joe. They play a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music.

Also, in this show, hundreds from close to home and around the nation attended the memorial service for slain West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard. Randy Yohe spoke with some of those who came to honor the life and legacy of a beloved trooper who was shot and killed in the line of duty last Friday.

And, the drug epidemic is an ever-evolving hot button topic with tons of buzzwords. But what does it all mean? Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice sat down with Susan Mullens, West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network Project coordinator to discuss terminology.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University and Shepherd University.

Caroline MacGregor is our assistant news director and produced this episode.

Teresa Wills is our host.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Slain Trooper’s Memorial Service Draws Crowd

More than a thousand people, hailing from close to home and around the nation, attended the Wednesday memorial service for slain West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard.

More than a thousand people, hailing from close to home and around the nation, attended the Wednesday memorial service for slain West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard. The trooper was shot and killed in the line of duty last Friday.

Troopers from both panhandles and from the Iowa, New Jersey and Nebraska State Police, joined masses of first responders and civilians who packed the funeral service in the Mingo Central High School gymnasium.

Curtis Meade, from Matewan, said Cory Maynard helped him once when he ran out of gas. He said the trooper ended up helping save him from living a troubled life.

“We became buddies,” Meade said. “The day I found out that it was him that was shot. It ate me up. I ain’t gonna lie, I was wanting to go after that dude. But, like God and Cory said, forgive and forget. I decided the best thing I could do is come up here and show my respects to a buddy of mine.”

Denise Browning brought her daughter Olivia to the memorial, paying a debt of gratitude to a first responder who became a perpetual part of their lives. Browning said Maynard was there in a moment of personal tragedy.

“Olivia was raped in 2019 and Cory Maynard stood by her side,” Browning said. “He was a fantastic guy in every single way. If I needed him at one o’clock in the morning, I could call his cell phone, he would talk and come if necessary.”

Iowa State Patrol and New Jersey State Police Troopers in line for visitation. *Credit: Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Shawn Marcum said he was honored to call Maynard a personal friend. Marcum was one of dozens who agreed that the 37-year-old husband and father, library volunteer and community activist was the kind of person you wanted your son or daughter to grow up to be like.

“He would help anyone in need,” Marcum said. “I’ve witnessed multiple times of him just stopping on the street, both in and out of uniform, to help people. It didn’t matter whether it was to buy something to drink, if they needed food just to talk. Cory never met a stranger.”

State Police Major Jim Mitchell said the sermon he delivered at the memorial service honored a person who truly lived a life of service to others. Mitchell said Marcum was the finest example of a trooper — and a person. He called him a generous man who was raised well and cherished his loving family — his wife Rachel, daughter Zoe and son Finn.

“We want to give his family the honor that they deserve,” Mitchell said. “They’ve stood by Cory for the 15 years that he served us. And it’s not easy for a family. But they really have, and they’ve done well. So we want to honor him. We want to honor his family. We want to honor the state police family.”

Mitchell said he told Maynard’s fellow troopers to take the pain that might be inside them and manifest it for the good.

“Sometimes, if we’re careful or not careful, things like this can happen,” he said. “It can upset us, it makes us angry and makes us sad. And if you just respond to the mere emotion of it, it’s not the best thing. But if you can sit back and look at it and remember why we’re here, why we do this — that’s how we continue.”

It seemed all who attended the funeral were close or extended family who came to honor the life and legacy of a beloved West Virginia State Police Trooper.

Alleged Murderer Of Trooper Pleads Not Guilty, Bond Denied

State Police said Kennedy ambushed Sgt. Cory Maynard and other troopers responding to a shots fired call last Friday in the Beech Creek area of Matewan.

Twenty-nine-year-old Timothy Kennedy, of Beech Creek, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a first-degree murder charge in front of Mingo County Circuit Court Judge Miki Thompson.

State Police said Kennedy ambushed Sgt. Cory Maynard and other troopers responding to a shots fired call last Friday in the Beech Creek area of Matewan.

The 37-year-old Maynard was shot in the incident and taken to Logan Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

Police say Kennedy was captured after a nearly seven-hour manhunt late that night. They say he also stole a vehicle before he was arrested.

Police say the shots fired call came after Benjamin Baldwin, 39, from Matewan, was shot with a rifle. Baldwin remains hospitalized, last reported on Monday in serious but stable condition, still in intensive care.

More charges involving Baldwin and the stolen vehicle are expected to be filed against Kennedy.

Kennedy remains jailed without bail. His preliminary hearing is set for Thursday where probable cause will be decided.

Trooper Maynard’s memorial service will take place Wednesday at Mingo Central High School.

Friends Remember Slain Trooper, Memorial Service Details

Those who knew Cory Maynard say the Williamson and Mingo County communities will suffer without his presence.

Updated on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 7:06 p.m.

Over the weekend, State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard was shot and killed in the line of duty near Matewan in Mingo County. Those who knew him say the Williamson and Mingo County communities will suffer without his presence.

Williamson Public Health Nurse Jimmy Copley said Cory Maynard was more like a brother than a friend. He said the 37-year-old husband and father would show as much care to a homeless person or recovering drug addict as to his own wife and children – and his devotion to helping all children live better lives was unmatched.

“He had actually called me a few days before all this happened,” Copley said. “He wanted to try to get with the Mingo County Health Department and come up with a summer program for kids to be out helping clean up the community.”

Childhood friend Rachel Siggers can name countless examples of Maynard’s compassion for others. The Williamson school mental health worker told the story of an unruly child – impossible for anyone to deal with. She called Maynard and asked him to come and be “bad cop” to her “good cop.” She said he came without hesitation, but didn’t follow the script.

“He was in the room with the kid for five minutes. And he’s buddied up with him and being soft with him,” Siggers said. “And, I’m looking at him like, that’s not what I asked you to do. He said, ‘Rachel, I couldn’t do it, he just needed somebody to love him.’”

Siggers said Maynard called daily after that to check on the child’s progress, coming back to talk with the child in person when necessary.

Williamson nurse April Hensley said Maynard was helping her son chart a career course – a son who aspired to be what Maynard took the greatest pride in – serving as a West Virginia State Trooper.

“Cory guided him and told him things that he needed to do and just really tried to help him,” Hensley said. “He was never off the clock. Anytime that anyone needed him, he was there. He’s not replaceable, and our community will suffer because of this.”

Jimmy Copley said Maynard had the makings of a State Police leader.

“He was absolutely proud of his time in the state police,” Copley said. “He was a long-term serving veteran and had climbed the ranks to sergeant and probably would have kept climbing. He was that good and that dedicated to his profession.”

His friends agreed – Maynard was selfless and genuine.

“He wanted the world to be a better place,” Copley said. “He saw the good and the potential good in everything. It didn’t matter. He saw your good and that’s what he wanted. He wanted to bring the good out.”

“His entrance into a room changed the atmosphere in the room,” Siggers said. “He could walk in the room, and just look at you and smile and everything would be alright. His loss is a void that I don’t know if we’ll ever get over.”

From the obituary issued by Evans Funeral Home: Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at the Mingo Central High School at Delbarton, WV, with Major Jim Mitchell officiating.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 7, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mingo Central High School at Delbarton, WV.

Pallbearers will be Damien Hart-Shepherd University PD, Tyler Hannon-WVSP, Jim Hannon-Retired OH Highway Patrol, Jonathan Ziegler-WVSP, Thomas Boggs-WVSP, and Kyle Johnson-WVSP.

The procession route to honor the life of Sgt. Cory S. Maynard will proceed from Mingo Central High School onto King Coal Highway, continuing onto Route 65, continuing onto Route 52, continuing onto 119 North to Chapmanville, WV.

As per his final wishes, Cory was a tissue donor, and his giving heart and spirit will live on in the lives of those who are the recipients of his gift of life. Also, in honoring his wishes, his remains will be cremated following the services