WV KNIFE AND GUN CLUB - Coal Executive Shot Dead Visiting Wife's Grave In Mingo County, Suspect Arrested

(05/24/2016)
UPDATE - An arrest has been made in the shooting death of a former coal executive.

Mingo County Sheriff James Smith says that Anthony Arriaga was arrested in Ohio around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday. Smith also said they've located a vehicle connected to the case.

Authorities say they are trying to extradite Arriaga back to the Mountain State, but it could take a few days.

Ben Hatfield, the former Vice President of Patriot Coal was found shot to death Monday morning at the Mountain View Memory Gardens Cemetary.

ORIGINAL STORY - Mingo County deputies say they are investigating the murder of a man whose body was found in a wood area at a cemetery in Maher.

The man's body was found around 6:30 Monday morning at the Mountain View Memory Garden Cemetery along Route 52.

Mingo County Sheriff James Smith said the victim is Ben Hatfield, who was the former vice president of Patriot Coal Corp. Hatfield's death is being investigated as a homicide.

It appears Smith was fatally shot as he was visiting the graves of his wife and in-laws, the sheriff said. The victim lived in Kanawha County and his girlfriend had reported him missing.

West Virginia State Police crime scene investigators and deputies spent the day searching for clues in the area. "I think it's safe to say this time we've ruled out suicide."

Smith said there are no suspects at this time and it's unclear what led up to the shooting.

Media spoke to a woman who lives near the cemetery who said she sold the victim flowers to decorate the graves early Sunday afternoon. She said the man came by every year to buy flowers from her.