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Background: The Walmart located on Nitro Market Place in Cross Lanes, West Virginia (Google Maps). Inset: Eric Dewayne Richmond (Kanawha County Sheriff”s Office).
Eric Dewayne Richmond, aged 54, is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of 40-year-old Misty Rose Williams, according to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Richmond is currently held without the possibility of bail at the South Central Regional Jail.
The incident occurred on a Monday morning around 9 a.m. at the Walmart superstore located on Nitro Market Place in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. Williams, who was employed at the store, took a break and headed to her car. Unfortunately, she never returned to work.
“Typically, employees receive a 20-minute break. However, when she failed to come back after more than an hour, concerns arose,” explained Sgt. Jeremy Burns from the sheriff’s office, in an interview with West Virginia Metro News.
“I believe they get a 20-minute break and she didn’t return, it had been over an hour,” Sgt. Jeremy Burns with the sheriff’s office told West Virginia Metro News.
Williams’ co-workers went to check on her and noticed her inside her vehicle in the parking lot “slumped over inside,” authorities said.
Investigators realized Williams had been shot in the chest, and they searched through video surveillance of the time. It reportedly showed Richmond inside the store before the shooting and then walking outside during her break.
Richmond could also allegedly be seen getting in and out of Williams’ car several times before leaving the area. At one point, her car moved forward and struck a parked vehicle in the parking lot.
The sheriff’s office noted that Richmond “shares children with Williams.”
Burns said they brought Richmond in for questioning and arrested him. A 9 mm handgun was found in his home when law enforcement searched it.
Richmond was expected to be arraigned on Monday and then reappear in court on April 20.