Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught was available Tuesday afternoon for a phone interview regarding developments in the investigation involving the June 24 Kappel Street burglary.

Haught stated there has been “lots of gossip” regarding the incident, which resulted in the incarceration of both Brandon Cole Walters, 28, and Dustin Todd Kendall, 30, both of Sistersville. Haught’s main goal of Tuesday’s conversation appeared to be to stifle gossip involving the discovery of the body of Gary Michael Willie, 27, of 631 Clark Ridge Road, Sistersville.

Haught stated the June 24 incident occurred during the early morning hours; three individuals-Walters, Kendall, and Willie-were apparently involved. At least two of the individuals allegedly entered the Kappel Street residence and beat up both the male and female occupant of the residence; Haught stated all three assailants were wearing ski masks.

Haught did want to stress that the incident, although called a burglary, did not involve the theft of anything. He states that whenever a person breaks into a residence to commit a crime, it is called burglary.

Haught stated both victims at the residence received superficial wounds, were treated, and released from Wetzel County Hospital. He stated that during the altercation at the residence, one of the assailants – Willie – cut himself with a box cutter. “He subsequently got into the car and left with the other two suspects,” Haught stated.

He added that eventually Willie was dropped off in Tyler County by the other two suspects, where he got into a vehicle and bled to death. “Evidence indicates (Willie) cut himself in the wrist, and he bled to death,” Haught stated. He stressed that there is no evidence to suggest that the occupants of the Kappel Street residence, nor the other two suspects, inflicted the wound. “There is no investigation,” said Haught.

As for the crimes committed at Kappel Street, Haught stated: “What we have in terms is a burglary and malicious wounding.” He said both Walters and Kendall have been preliminarily charged with burglary, though contingent on further reports of evidence, both could also be charged with malicious wounding.

As for possible criticism that law enforcement did not release enough information at first, Haught stated that law enforcement did not want to compromise the investigation, as the suspects had not been taken into custody yet.

Also, “there was no reason to believe that the occupants of the residence were not specifically targeted. There was absolutely no reason to believe any other member of the public was in danger.”

Both Kendall and Walters are still being held at the Northern Regional Jail on $100,000 bond.

West Virginia State Police, Tyler County Sheriff’s Department, and New Martinsville Police Department all took part in the investigation that led to the arrest of both individuals.