Police in West Virginia and OH have made two arrests in relation to the death of former International Coal Group CEO Ben Hatfield.
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Ben Hatfield was found shot to death in the Mountain View Memory Gardens Cemetery in Mingo County early Monday morning.
Arriaga, 20, is being held on a first-degree murder warrant in Allen County, Ohio, Mingo County Sheriff James Smith said.
Fitzpatrick is the third person arrested in connection with Hatfield’s slaying. When police attempted to interview Peterson at home Monday night about the death, he allegedly said he knew nothing about it. She is facing drug charges, but no charges connected with the murder.
Municipal Court Chief Deputy Clerk Brenda Benedict says Arriaga signed forms waiving his right to have an extradition hearing.
As he was led away from the courtroom Arriaga turned to the cameras and said he wanted to apologize to Hatfield’s family.
Brandon Lee Fitzpatrick, 18, of Louisa, Kentucky, was charged by West Virginia authorities with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, Elsmere, Kentucky Police Chief Timothy Thames said.
Arriaga is accused of shooting and killing Hatfield at a cemetery in Mingo County.
Smith says Arriaga dropped the gun in the river, and took off his clothes because they were wet from going over the riverbank. The Delphos Police Chief says he received a call Tuesday from the owner of a vehicle wash on Canal Street about an abandoned auto on his lot.
While Peterson is in a West Virginia jail, it could be a couple of days until Arriaga is extradited to the Mountain State, Sheriff Smith said.
Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney Teresa Maynard said she would issue a statement on Fitzpatrick’s charges this morning.
Ricky Peterson has also been charged in the case.
A second man has been arrested in an investigation into an ex-coal executive’s death in West Virginia.
Fitzpatrick was later arrested in Kentucky and Arriaga was arrested in Ohio.
Investigators say Arriaga was at Peterson’s home after the murder, but he lied lied to troopers saying he has made no contact with Arriaga and didn’t know about the murder.
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According to a criminal complaint, Arriaga went to his friend Peterson’s house in Wayne and told him about the shooting. He arrived at the Mingo County Courthouse just after 8 a.m. for his arraignment in magistrate court. Police from West Virginia left Tuesday evening to retrieve him. Your News Now received word from officials that Arriaga was being transported back to West Virginia late Wednesday afternoon.
