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West Virginia man kills four, self

By Miles Layton, For The Greene County Messenger 7 min read

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia man who was apparently upset over his love life and business dealings allegedly killed four people and himself on Monday.

Monongalia County, W.Va. Sheriff’s Department’s press release reported that the suspect, Jody Hunt, 39, of Westover was located in a rural part of that county with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Hunt posted his reasons and more on Facebook about his love life and betrayal.

The press release said deputies responded around 9:58 a.m. to report of shots fired on Sweet Pea Lane in Monongalia County. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, Jody Taylor, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Taylor was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he died from injuries sustained from the gunshot wound, the sheriff’s department said.

State police spokesman Lt. Michael Baylous said two of the shootings happened in the Westover area and the other was in the Cheat Lake area in Monongalia County.

Baylous identified the two victims from the Cheat Lake shooting as Sharon Kay Berkshire, 39, of Westover, and David Frum, 28, of Maidsville. Baylous had no details on the Westover shootings, saying other law enforcement agencies were handling them.

“We ask that everyone stay vigilant and use their discretion about whether they should leave their homes,” Wolfe said.

As authorities searched for Hunt, he updated his comments around 5:30 p.m. on Facebook. He takes aim at thieves who robbed his business and at the justice system in Monongalia County. Hunt talks about his love and how life is short in later post at 5:44 p.m.

According to Hunt’s post around 12:30 p.m. on Facebook, he was having relationship difficulties with his girlfriend.

“I’m deeply hurt by the events that lead up to this day! I did not choose to have the love of my life go behind my back and sleep with several guys as she came home to lay her head on my shoulder to say goodnight I love you,” he posted. “I poured out my heart to her only to be manipulated as to what I could give her. Relationships are not a game. Ones heart is not a game. Having a man text u to say I’m with her and u are stuck without her is not a game.

Games hurt people’s hearts. Games don’t solve anything. Loyalty, honesty and love should be cherished and not toyed with! The most important thing we carry in life is the love we have for a special someone. That love is meant for only person. Life is short. It’s not all games. Don’t play a game with ones heart. Also watch the people around you because even though they may hide it well, you never know the fight they have inside and their struggle.

I’m happy to have been given the opportunity to have the friends that excepted me as such. Your friendship meant the world to me! You know who you are! May your life be blessed and filled with the love you desire. Don’t neglect that love to which you are given. If you are given such love, return it 10-fold. Never walk away from a fight with the one that you love without resolving it.”

Hunt addresses his alleged actions in the Facebook post.

“I am deeply sorry to those I have affected in a negative way in their life,” he writes.

Please give my dogs a good home that they deserve. Please don’t let them be neglected based on my actions. My actions were not right nor were they the actions of those who tried to tear me down and take from me.

“This was not a plan but a struggle to see that those who strives to hurt me received their fair pay of hurt like I received.”

Hunt talks about love in the post.

“Like de is not a game of who can hurt who. Life is not who can take from the other,” he posts. “Life is love and caring for one another those close to you and those far from you. Those who know me best know how big my heart is and was. For I am hurt by those who devastated my life by what action you chose to do! You will not hurt me anymore. You will not destroy my soul and heart as you tried so hard to do.”

Hunt addresses someone named Lisa and Sharon (no last names provided)

To Lisa and your family. Thank you for excepting me as your family. You loved me as I was. You excepted me as I was. My love for Lisa I still hold close to my heart.

“She was and is a grate woman not to mention a great cook. Some guy will be lucky to have her. She also has a big heart filled with live and loyalty. I myself feel by Sharon led astray by her lies. The way she minupulated people.

Lisa I am sorry for the position that I left u in now in your life. Please except my deepest apologies to you and for my short comings of running astray. If only we could have fixed our issues?”

Hunt speaks about his alleged actions.

“I’m sure I will be remembered by not what good I did but the devastation I caused to a few people’s lives,” he posts. “I’m sure they won’t be remembered by what bad things they did.

I except my actions were wrong but in my eyes just. So I will leave this world as others did. May your saddened hearts be replaced with hate for me. Please take care of my dogs.”

Hunt has been reported in Preston County, W.Va. and in the Marion County, W.Va. area near Fairmont.

A few hours after Hunt’s first comments were posted to Facebook, he updated his status at 5:30 p.m. by writing more things about what was going through his head.

“Lot of people are wondering what brought me to the point where I decided to make these bad choices,” Hunt wrote in his latest post to Facebook.

State documents indicate Hunt owned J&J Towing and Repair LLC of Westover.

Hunt cites two men, the Herald-Standard is withholding their names, that he accuses of stealing of $17,000 from his business.

Hunt said though authorities knew the men stole the money, charges against the men were never pursued through the criminal justice system in Monongalia County, W.Va.

Hunt also takes aim at another towing company who he accuses of colluding with police. The Herald-Standard has withheld the name of the towing company that Hunt made his accusations against.

Hunt posts that this company gives free service to certain police officers so that they can give him big money wrecks so as to bill the hell out of insurance companies.

Hunt said the owner of this company is a “snake in the grass” who is only out for personal gain.

Around 5:44 p.m. Hunt talks about his love for a woman.

“Love is all I tried to show her,” he posts. “By what I did was not love that I know. Not saying what I did was right by no means was this right. I hope that everyone takes the words I love you seriously. Be honest with the one you are with. No need for a game. You either want them or you don’t. Just tell them no need to lead their heart on.”

Hunt then talks about his alleged actions.

“I’m so sorry for my actions today and the lives I’ve affected,” he posts. “I’m so tired of wrong doers getting by with all of it. Life is short. Love the one you are with.”

Local schools were placed on lockdown, but West Virginia University in nearby Morgantown said there was no immediate threat to the campus. Classes resumed Monday following the Thanksgiving break.

“The incident is not associated with WVU nor did it occur on or near campus,” the university said in a news release.

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