Natasha Kay Lee Collins, a 22-year-old Caucasian female from Albright, West Virginia, tragically died on February 20, 2024. A vibrant and beloved mother of three, Natasha was known for her passion for cooking, which she channeled into her own food truck business called The Sloppy Toppings. She had a deep appreciation for the outdoors, often enjoying activities like fishing, mudding, and swimming with her children. When not outside, she expressed her creativity through arts and crafts, including drawing and tattooing. Remembered for her ability to touch lives with love and compassion, Natasha was a radiant soul who brought laughter and smiles to those around her.
On that Tuesday in February, law enforcement responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on Woolen Mill Road in Albright. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Natasha in a nearby field suffering from a gunshot wound. She was immediately transported to Preston Memorial Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation quickly focused on her husband, 29-year-old Edward Allen Garletts, who was the only person with her at the time of the shooting.
During questioning, authorities noted numerous inconsistencies in Garletts' statements regarding the events that led to his wife's death. These discrepancies, coupled with other findings in the investigation, led to his arrest. Edward Allen Garletts was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. Following his arrest, he was held without bond at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
In the months that followed, the legal proceedings against Garletts advanced. A Preston County grand jury later indicted him on charges of first-degree murder and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, the latter charge stemming from a previous domestic violence conviction. As the case moves through the court system, the family and community continue to mourn the loss of a young mother whose life was cut short, leaving behind her three children, Brayden, Connor, and Lilly, and a wide circle of grieving family and friends.
