Community mourns murdered Wyoming County bus driver - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Community mourns murdered Wyoming County bus driver

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BRENTON -

A Wyoming County bus driver murdered in her own home. The suspected killer leads deputies on a cross county man hunt.  Six hours later, deputies place him under arrest.

Our 59 News crews were on the scene was 20-year old Jonathan New was being returned to Wyoming County.

"Do you have anything you want to say to the victim or her family," our crews asked.

Silence from 20 year New as Wyoming county sheriffs deputies usher him into a holding cell. Deputies said he is under arrest for the murder of Elaine Birchfield.

Miles away in Elaine's hometown of Brenton, the community is struggling to understand what happened on Tuesday night.

"It shocked all of us she wasn't involved in nothing. She was a good person. She's a godly woman she loved god she worked hard her entire life," Andy Retliff, a neighbor said.

Known as beloved school bus drive and for her love of horses Elaine left home on Tuesday evening. She returned to a burglary in progress.  Sheriffs deputies said New was the intruder and that's when things turned violent, stating New killed Elaine.

They said New stole her SUV and took off.  He was spotted by a tipster in Mingo County and deputies said they were able to arrest New just 6 hours after the murder of Elaine Birchfield.