Friday, April 2, 2010

Hico, WV: Fayette man kills estranged wife, self, police say

By Rusty Marks
Staff writer
Advertiser

HICO, W.Va. -- A Fayette County man apparently killed himself Thursday after fatally shooting his estranged spouse.

According to a press release issued by Fayette County Sheriff Steve Kessler, deputies found 34-year-old Rebecca Sue Crawford of Victor in a pickup truck in a parking lot off of U.S. 60 in Hico with a gunshot wound to the side of her head at about 3:30 p.m. Gary Dennis Cole, 48, of Hico, was suspected of the shooting, and was seen fleeing the scene in a green Ford Ranger pickup truck.

Crawford was taken to CAMC General Hospital by HealthNet helicopter but was pronounced dead on arrival, Kessler said.

Fayette County authorities issued an alert for Cole, who was spotted by Nicholas County sheriff's deputies near Mount Lookout. After a brief chase, Kessler said Cole killed himself with a single gunshot wound to the chest as deputies tried to arrest him.

Kessler said Cole was subject to a domestic violence petition and had reportedly been stalking Crawford. Both bodies were sent to the state medical examiner's office.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

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