A Spencer man was dead prior to a fire which destroyed his mobile home on Arnoldsburg Road along U. S. 33-119 near
the Roane-Calhoun line. An autopsy has reportedly revealed John Moorehead, 68, died of blunt force trauma to the head
prior to the fire, making his death suspicious in nature.
Family members have expressed concern Moorehead could have been a victim of foul play.
Moorehead's body was found just inside the trailer as members of the Spencer-Roane VFD put out the fire in 20 minutes
during the early morning hours of December 29th.
A passing motorist reportedly noticed smoke coming from the dwelling and called 911.
A State Fire Marshal official and the West Virginia State Police were summoned to the scene by the Spencer-Roane
Volunteer Fire Department, the body was taken to the State Medical Examiners Office to determine cause of death.
Moorehead lived by himself.
He was born Dec. 15, 1934, in Roane County, a son of the late Robert Randolph "Dolph" and Velva Susan Niday Morehead. He was formerly employed at Ford Motor Company in Ohio and recently did carpentry work. He was a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army, having retired in 1977, after serving during the Vietnam Conflict, where he received a Bronze Star.
He is survived by three sisters, Frances (Bill) Miller of Spencer, Emogene (Harold) Bridgewater of New Harmony, Ind., and Eloise (Roland) Conner of Cottageville, W.Va.; and three brothers, Raymond Morehead of Barberton, Ohio, and Franklin (Carolyn) and Bobby (Kay) Morehead, both of Mogadore, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by one son, David Morehead; one sister, Justine Jones; and two brothers, Bill and Deat Morehead.
Service will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home, Spencer, with the Rev. Leon Strickland officiating. Burial in the Egypt Ridge Cemetery. Visiting hours are from 5-7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
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