Murder in Wetzel County
Police Catch Suspect Inside Wheeling CaveBy GABE WELLS Staff Writer
Accused murderer Robert A. Maine Jr. was sound asleep Saturday evening in a Wheeling cave when West Virginia State Police Sergeant J.A. Laing placed him in handcuffs.
The 30-year-old resident of 14 Rose St., New Martinsville, is being held in the Northern Regional Jail on a charge of murder following a well-orchestrated manhunt that involved multiple law enforcement agencies. Robert Maine is accused of shooting his 30-year-old cousin, Gregory G. Maine Jr., at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday in the Rose Street residence following an argument.
Laing, of the Paden City Detachment, said Robert Maine was taken into custody at about 6:15 p.m. Saturday in the mouth of the Lewis Wetzel Cave in the Tunnel Green Section of Wheeling.
Laing said he organized a search team of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff's Department and the Wheeling Police Department after receiving a tip the murder suspect was hiding in the Wheeling area.
Laing said his search team initially looked for Robert Maine at a home in the Tunnel Green section of Wheeling. According to Laing, Robert Maine later told investigators he needed rest, but he feared police would track him down if he slept in the East Wheeling home.
"We were actually able to apply the handcuffs without waking him up," Laing said. "The tip was well founded, and citizens in East Wheeling were crucial in providing on-the-spot info that he'd departed prior to our arrival. That's what set the manhunt on the trail and in the woods in motion. That's when we began to tighten the noose."
Laing said, after he received the tip, it took only 12 minutes for the search to begin. He commended all the officers involved and Wheeling Police Department search dog Hyco for their efforts in the arrest.
"It was high-intensity stuff no doubt about it," Laing said of the search.
Gregory Maine initially was transported to Wetzel County Hospital, but he was then taken Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where he was pronounced dead. The New Martinsville Police Department is investigating the shooting.
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dauber
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03-10-09 10:29 PM
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Is a freind of the Maine family I would like to say I am sorry for their loss. Bob, Lee and there parents are great people. I have known Bob and Lee since I was 8 years old. We all played T' Ball together on the same team coached by Bob Sr.
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TheRealityPolice
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03-09-09 4:30 PM
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I am sorry for the Maine family in this case - this will be a difficult ordeal. Now someone please explain to me where this cave is? I have heard about it but where is it in relation to the old tunnel? (I SWEAR that tunnel is haunted, btw.....)
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true2bun
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03-09-09 2:56 PM
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ChaplineRow, they have also shortened the string on paddle ball
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alibra
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03-09-09 2:55 PM
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As a Wetzel County native, I have been deeply sadened by this whole ordeal. I have known the Maine family my entire life and my tears continue to fall today for both Greg and Bobby and the entire Maine family. My heart goes out to both of their mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, and all others who have been hurt by this tragedy.
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acousticportal
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03-09-09 10:24 AM
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I agree Ellis..good post on the state of our ridiculous litigious society that has us all walking on eggshells. Responsibility is no longer with individuals for their own behavior. Ha ha ha ha... what a stupid place.
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WVneedsGOD
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03-08-09 8:56 PM
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Kudos to our police men and women who worked so hard to get this done. It's amazing that the cooperation was such that an officer from the city where this happened was able to apply the cuffs in Ohio County. Always good to hear that the different departments are working together. Good work, guys!
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EllisWyatt
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03-08-09 2:04 PM
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It's not that they want to take away your fun, it's that there are too many trial lawyers with time on their hands. They have cultivated a permanent clientle of "victims" who sue for everything from slip & fall to "internet harassment". Everyone is a victim. Because you are likely to be sued by one of these permanent victims and their slimy lawyer, you have to protect people from themselves. Blame the plaintiff's attorneys for the decline of playgrounds and other fun things. Now we have a generation of self-centered couch potatoes. Who can blame them? The playground doesn't have a sliding board, monkey bars, spring based horse rides or merry go rounds. Our national conscience has been gutted of morality and our national playgrounds have been gutted of fun.
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ChaplineRow
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03-08-09 12:26 PM
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Glad they got him. I remember Wetzel's cave from being in it when I was a teenager back in the 60's. Thought maybe they had sealed it up kind of like taking the diving boards out of our pools and doing away with M-80 fireworks and everything elae that was fun. I never knew anyone hurt with fireworks or diving boards or dragracing on I-70 from Elby's to Washington Avenue. But big brother is always right and knows what is best for us simple folk.
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