| The murder case against Bobby "Trader Bob" Shamblin, 34, of Stumptown, will be presented to the September Grand Jury. Magistrate Teresa Robinson found probable cause to move the case ahead following a pre-trial hearing yesterday in Grantsville.
State Police have charged Shamblin with two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of Ward Groves, 69, and his ex-wife, Mary Hicks, 60. They were shot to death in the early morning hours of May 15 in the Grove's house, located between Sand Ridge and the Calhoun-Gilmer line. Shamblin has also been charged with one count of burglary.
Much of the testimony against Shamblin was given to State Police by a 16-year-old juvenile, who has been identified as Ronnie Rush. Rush is being held in a detention center in Parkersburg.
Rush claims he was awakened and held at knife-point by Shamblin, who then shot the couple with two shotguns. Sgt. Jeff Cooper said Rush testified Shamblin said "He would cut my heart out if I told."
Calhoun Deputy Carl Ballengee testified about the murder scene. He said Hicks was on a bed, with her left leg and arm hanging over the side,he described a trail of blood down the side of the bed onto the floor. "She had her fist clinched, with no indication of life," he
said.
Ballengee said he entered another bedroom off the living room, where he observed the body of Ward Groves. "He had a hole in the back of his head near his ear," he said.
Sgt. Jeff Cooper of the State Police said there were no signs of a struggle.
Ballengee told the court he and Sheriff Allen Parsons went to the residence of Paul Rush, father of Ronnie Rush, about one-half mile away. Ronnie Rush had driven a vehicle belonging to Ward Groves to the house, where he called 911. Looking into the Groves vehicle, they noticed "a pretty good roll of money" on the floorboard, tied
with bailer twine.
Shamblin's previous legal problems surfaced, a domestic battery charge he had involving his former wife.
Ballengee told the court he performed a gunshot residue test on Ronnie Rush and turned the test material over to state police, but the results are yet to be returned.
Ballengee testified Ward Groves had come into a large sum of money after the death of his brother a few weeks ago.
Sgt. Cooper testified two long guns, a suit case and a considerable sum of money was found by officers in a light-blue Chevy truck belonging to Ronnie Rush, the vehicle was parked at the Grove's home. Other amounts of money were found in the house.
Sgt. Cooper said the juvenile was upset, "emotional and crying," as he told his story. He said Shamblin also forced him to help remove items from the house to a vehicle. Later, he and Shamblin "each threw shotguns into the river," in the Steer Creek-Stumptown area.
About 24 hours later several state policemen went to Bobby Shamblin's trailer on Rosedale Road and placed him under arrest. Shamblin gave officers permission to search his residence, said Sgt. Cooper. "He said he had nothing to hide," Cooper testified.
Shamblin's girlfriend Anita Sandy first told officers he left the house and returned about 1:30 a.m., he had been drinking and asked for his clothes to be washed, but she later recanted her statement.
Officers did take two shotguns, a pocket knife and some clothing for testing from Shamblin's house. Cooper quoted Shamblin as saying "He had no knowledge of the crime." State Police said no residue testing was done on Shamblin, because he told us he had showered.
The clothing, which had mud stains on them, had been placed in a washer, but had not been washed. Sgt. Cooper stated there was no visiable signs of blood on the garmets.
Cooper said the two guns had been in evidence at the Grantsville detachment, but were being sent to Charleston Friday, for testing.
Shamblin's attorney Jerome Novobilski asked "How can my client hold all these instruments (two guns and a knife) at the same time?" Sgt. Cooper replied, "It's possible."
Sgt. Cooper said he felt the motive was robbery. Attorney Novobilski questioned, why would the cash be left in Rush's vehicle, at the house and in Grove's vehicle, if Shamblin was attempting to steal the money?
Novobilski asked Sgt. Cooper about inconsistencies in the Rush statement. Cooper said there were several inconsistencies. "Was the boy lying," he asked. Cooper replied "Yes sir.
The juvenile has been charged with aiding and abetting the murders.
Sherry McKown Adkins, who lives across the road from Shamblin and his girlfriend,
testified he got home about 10 or 10:30 p.m. the night of the murder. "I saw him get
out of the truck," she said. "I did not hear the truck leave," claiming it had extremely
noisy mufflers.
She said Shamblin worked on Ward Groves truck, and they often traded items.
Bobby Shamblin was quiet and helpful to my family," she concluded. | 
