On a cold January evening in Princeton, West Virginia, the life of 38-year-old Leona Mae Edwards, a White female, was tragically cut short. On Thursday, January 4, 2024, in the quiet Lilly Grove community along Gardener Loop, Edwards was fatally shot multiple times as she was getting out of her vehicle. The incident, which occurred just after 8 p.m., shattered the peace of the neighborhood and left a family grieving an immeasurable loss.
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement
officials quickly launched an investigation. Their efforts led them to a suspect, 33-year-old Cory Callen of Bluefield. Callen was apprehended in the neighboring Fayette County and was subsequently arrested. He now faces the grave charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Leona Edwards.
Following his arrest, Callen was arraigned in Mercer County Magistrate Court via video. He is currently being held without bond at the Central Regional Jail in Braxton County. As the legal process unfolds, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Leona Edwards' untimely death remains ongoing, leaving a community to mourn and await justice.
