Probable cause was found on Monday in Monongalia County Magistrate Court in the case of the Cheat Lake man accused in the April 19 shooting death of his wife.
Rick Allen Cordes, 49, of Morgantown, was charged with first degree murder on April 25 after an alleged altercation involving a Taurus .44 caliber revolver resulted in the death of Jennifer L. Hribar, 39, at the couple’s home on Falling Water Lane.
According to court documents and statements made at Monday’s preliminary hearing, detectives with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department discovered the couple was seen arguing at two different Cheat Lake restaurants prior to the shooting with Cordes being the primary aggressor.
Cordes allegedly gave conflicting statements to dispatchers and first responders, as well as detectives, regarding how Hribar was shot.
Following an autopsy performed by the chief medical examiner’s office, it was determined that Hribar’s manner of death was a homicide. She suffered a gunshot to the back of the head.
During his testimony on Monday, Detective Sgt. Stephen Currie said he was 100% positive the trigger was not pulled by the victim.
The case will now be brought before a Monongalia County Grand Jury.
