KINGWOOD — A fire at the home of a couple accused of murdering their neighbor remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office.
On Oct. 19 a home at 847 Number 4 Road, Tunnelton, burnt. Firefighters called the State Fire Marshal in to investigate.
The home is listed on court documents as the residence of Robert Joseph Quinn, 42, who is charged with the first-degree murder of his neighbor, Philip “Bucky” Barlow.
Quinn’s girlfriend, Laura Lynn Martin, is also charged with first-degree murder in the killing.
Both are being held in jail without bond, and the home was believed to be unoccupied.
“Our agency is investigating the fire and, at this moment, the status is that it remains under investigation,” Timothy Rock, Public Information Specialist for the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office, said Friday.
Martin, who was in jail in Garrett County, Md., on an unrelated charge, was arraigned last week in Preston County on the charge. Her preliminary hearing, originally set for Friday, Oct. 30, has been continued to Dec. 28.
Quinn waived his preliminary hearing, clearing the way for the Preston County Grand Jury to hear the case. The grand jury will decide if there is enough evidence to indict Quinn on the charge. At that point, he can enter a plea or go to trial.
Only circuit judges can set bond in murder cases in West Virginia.
Police said in criminal complaints that the couple killed Barlow as part of a robbery.
A search began when Barlow, 61, failed to arrive for work May 29, 2019, in Kingwood. His truck was found on fire the same morning near Showerbath Road, Kingwood.
His body was found in June 2019 near Fortney’s Mill by hunters training their dogs.
TWEET@DominionPostWV
