Senate bill would reinstate death penalty in West Virginia

By: Lori Kersey

Outlets: West Virginia Watch

Published: February 27, 2026

Words: 658

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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A bill moving in the West Virginia Senate would reinstate the death penalty for people convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree sexual abuse of children in the same proceeding.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 1037 Thursday afternoon.

The committee heard the testimony of Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger about the 2016 sexual assault and murder of nine-month-old Emmaleigh Barringer.

Benjamin Taylor, 34, who was the child’s mother’s boyfriend at the time, …

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