Daniels, WV: Daniels man charged with wife’s murder

By Amelia A. Pridemore
Register-Herald Reporter
A Daniels man was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife, authorities said.

Christopher Wayne Bowling, 37, was being held at Southern Regional Jail pending a bond hearing before a Raleigh County Circuit Court judge.

Tresa Carol Bowling, 34, was shot on Pilot Lane in Daniels around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, sheriff’s Sgt. Larry Lilly said. She later died at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.

Christopher Bowling told deputies the shooting was accidental, Lilly said. He said he had been handling a .380 semiautomatic when it accidentally discharged.

However, evidence at the scene did not fit his story, Lilly said. Detectives also conducted witness interviews. The alleged motive remains under investigation. Lilly said he could not release further details about the investigation.

Any domestic violence history the couple may have had was unknown and still under investigation as well, Lilly said.

Magistrate Steve Massie signed an arrest warrant Tuesday afternoon and sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Jim Bare arrested Bowling, according to Massie’s office. Bowling was arraigned before Magistrate Mary Jennings and remanded to jail.

Bowling will have a preliminary hearing within 10 days, according to Massie’s office.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com