11-22-2018 - A man accused of murdering another man in Roane County has been arrested.
Police arrested Michael John Smith, 37, Thursday evening, reportedly at Spencer's Go-Mart.
Smith is accused of murdering James Hall, 36, of Spencer. Hall was found dead inside his home last Sunday afternoon.
Smith is charged with first degree murder.
He is in Central Regional Jail.
POLICE LOOKING FOR MICHAEL JOHN SMITH FOR ROANE MURDER - Funeral Saturday For James Hall, 36
11-22-2018 - Officers are now looking for a suspect in the murder of a Roane County man.
Michael John Smith, 37, of Roane County is wanted for the murder of James Hall, 36 of Spencer, according to Roane County deputies.
Hall was found dead inside his home about 2 p.m. Sunday, the location of that residence has not been released.
No details have been released about how Hall was killed.
Initially, it was described as a suspicious death investigation. On Monday, the death was ruled a homicide investigation.
Deputies say Smith is armed and should be considered dangerous.
Roane County deputies, West Virginia State Police and U.S. Marshals are searching for Smith.
They are asking the public for helping in locating Smith.
According to the Hur Herald Archives, Smith was charged for petit larceny in 2017 in Calhoun, and was arrested in Roane in 2007 for arson, destruction of property and obstruction.
The archives also indicated that Smith had been charged in 2011 with the malicious wounding of his girlfriend in Reedy, throwing her off a bridge.
11-21-2018 - Funeral services have been announced for James Lee Hall, 36, of Spencer, who State Police have said they were investigating his death as a possible victim of a homicide.
His body was discovered last Sunday.
(See OBITS)
State Police have yet to release any details about Hall's death, where it occurred or the cause of his demise.
His body was taken to the WV Medical Examiners office.
Funeral services are Saturday at the Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer, with burial in the Otto Cemetery.
11/21/2018 - State Police have been tight-lipped about a reported homicide Sunday in Roane County, saying the body of 36-year-old James Hall was discovered at his residence.
Sources told the Herald that Hall was discovered at a house near Buck Ridge Hill, on US 33 a few miles west of Spencer. Those sources said that Hall had been living in a partially burned our house, none of which could be confirmed.
Those same sources said Hall had been shot and his body was taken to the State Medical Examiners office in Charleston, unconfirmed.
State Police said witnesses were being interviewed.
11/20/2018 - West Virginia State Police said Monday that a death in Roane County is now being investigated as a homicide.
Troopers said they found James Hall, 36, dead inside his Spencer home about 2 p.m. Sunday.
Initially, it was described as a suspicious death investigation.
Investigators interviewed witnesses at the scene.
Local sources told the Herald the homicide occurred on Ripley Road, just west of Spencer.
No other details regarding in the incident have been released.
ORIGINAL STORY 11/19.2018- State Police are investigating a suspicious death in Roane County.
Troopers responded to a home in Spencer, around 2 p.m. Sunday. James Hall, 36, was found dead inside his home.
Investigators are on scene right now, interviewing witnesses. The cause of death is unknown. | 
