Gerald Hough Gerald B. Hough, Es Extreme lack of communication regarding an 8 year investigation into a wrongful death case. Sand Fork West Virginia

Thank you for pointing out what I already knew.  It takes money to get justice and very often the 'little guy' just doesn't have it, which is why corruption wins and secrets continue.

And this is why I speak.

Rest assured, I've spent my fair share seeking Justice for my dad.  Paying in both money and Stress. Your response is eerily similar to what I've been told by locals for years now, with no forward movement to investigate or close. 

This is not an issue of a woman being sad and missing her dad.

My father's passing has been followed for many years by curious citizens of the community. He might have drank a few beers, but he was an honest, tough old mountain man, well liked and had many friends. 

At age 73, my father did have common ailments of the elderly, no doubt, BUT he died by administration of LIQUID MORPHINE, in front of witnesses in his own home!!  Morphine NOT prescribed by the doctor who was treating hm for the pneumonia, but instead, a local doctor, based only on a phone call of lies. She had not physically seen the man in about a year!  These are documented FACTS.  

He had been in the hospital recovering from PNEUMONIA and released by his doctor with no restrictions, activities as tolerated and not a word about anything being terminal. The medical records are available.

I was there that morning he was released by his doctor to go home. I had slept at his bedside in the hospital for several weeks.  I knew his condition, had seen his improvement and felt confident to go back to my home state of NY and my job when he was released to home. He was happy and vibrant , the last time I saw him, and, as my uncle later said... "He sure didn't look like a man who was going home to die"

However, 6 days later I got a phone call that he was dead. After a 9 hour drive, I got to the house and couldn't believe my eyes!  The man was barely cold and everything he had was GONE.  The same people that fed him the morphine and taken his money, 30 some guns, every picture and knicknack and food out of the cupboards.  Their 'raiding parties' continued for several days. I saw this with my own eyes, as well as several other witnesses. $3,000 in cash was handed to ME by the 'Executor' in what I perceivced to be a bribe to let it all happen and look the other way.  The 'Executor' with many witneses present, was distributing the guns and drove my father's truck off his property while I was busy at the graveside watching dad be buried!! 

In the days immediately following his death and even before the funeral, many calls were made to local authorities to stop the thefts, but I was continually told it was 'a civil case' as they stood by and let them drive away vehicles loaded down with guns headed for the state line. 

He was Dead and his checking account cleared out before he passed, and everything gone by the next day.  Was there ever a coroner's report? No.  Autopsy?  No. Answers to my questions?  No.

That man was NOT sent home to die. Witness statements and paper trails to missing money and morphine are conveniently overlooked.  

Documentation exists that the deputy assigned to the 'investigation' had no training in investigating a wrongful death, before or since. And that, in my opinion, is THE problem.  Evidence was lost and people were gone by the time they finally believed the eye witness, and realized what I was saying was TRUE.  

 I was told by the 'invetigting' Deputy myself that he did not interview a couple of the eye witnesses to my father's death because "he didn't have time" and "they had already left".  He has repeated this excuse more than once and audio recording is available. 

If there were an actual investigation done at the time and there were no issues found, nothing wrong, then why is the case still open after all this time?

Why does Mr. Hough refuse to communicate with me, still, after all this time?  If there was nothing suspicious or unusual, seems like the case would have been closed and over many years ago.  None of this makes sense.

Lack of money should NOT be the only way to obtain justice.

 Jim - Instead of compounding Marlea's grief, and anxiety, why don't you you disclose who you're working for, and attempting to sell.

First, my condolences to you.  There were a couple of things that popped up as I read this:

I immediately requested an autopsy and was quickly denied by the lone Sheriff Deputy assigned to the case. He said he had spoken to the funeral direction, and I was told in a laughing way "you don't know what you're asking for".  Generally speaking, if the deceased did not die under suspicious circumstances in his/her home, then there would likely be no autopsy performed.  A relative, such as yourself, cannot ask for the state to perform an autopsy in such a circumstance - you would have to secure the services of a private doctor to perform the autopsy.  The cost for such a service can range between $3,000 to $5,000 and you would receive the autopsy report.  I would also consider a private forensic accountant to possibly explain the transfers of cash that seem suspicious to you.  Again, that will cost you time and money - resources the state does not have.

Many, many FOIAs, requestd by myself as well as media reporters  have requested information into my father's passing.  Year after year, the answers are always the same...  no information can be given as the investigation is ongoing.   That is correct.  It would be considered a cold case by now, but if there is someone like yourself who wishes the investigation to continue, then the case cannot be closed and the investigation is considered open.  I mean no one is actively working the case, but it is still open.

I recently contacted Mr. Hough by letter, along with copies to every official in town, pleading with them for closure after SO MANY years! If after more than 8 years, Mr. Hough did not YET have enough information to indict someone for my father's death, in my opinion, he should Close the case!  To not receive a phone call at least or an acknowledgement of my communication is inexcusable for public officials, in my humble opinion, especially when it involves the death of a man and an open wrongful death case.  You are going to need to really figure out what you want here, because you just contradicted yourself.  First, you want the case to be closed if no one is going to be indicted, yet you continue to believe there was a wrongful death.  If you believe the latter, then you cannot ask for the former.

I am the one that requested the invetigation and I also requested the closure so that I can have answers.  You may have requested the investigation, but you cannot request it be closed...  Once it starts...until there is an explanation, they cannot close the case.

My last resort is to post this here in the hope of receiving Justice for my father, and peace and closure for my soul.  Too soon, Mr. Hough will be able to retire from the position of Gilmer County Prosecutor and all hope for Justice, Responsibility and Closure will be gone.  Just because one man retires doesn't mean your hopes for a resolution retire as well.  However, you should reconcile yourself to the thought that your father was a sick man.

Most states do not have the resources to perform what it is you wish for the state to perform.  This is why there are private companies that do this for a fee.  It may be too late to perform the sort of autopsy of your father you really need, but you may need to spend significant money to look into your suspicions.  If you can afford these services, then you should secure their services, however their report may not provide the sort of comfort you're looking for.  If you cannot afford those services, then you simply have to accept what happened and move on.  Best of luck to you....