Hannah Wilson, a 22-year-old White/Caucasian woman from Martinsburg, West Virginia, was found dead on June 14, 2023, in the area of Exchange Place in Martinsburg. The location was described by police as remote, just west of the North Queen Street overpass, and the discovery quickly turned into a major investigation. What began as the finding of a young woman’s body soon drew detectives, outside agencies, and crime-scene resources into an effort to determine what had happened to her and who
was responsible.
Martinsburg Police began working the case through the evening hours of June 14 and into June 15. Wilson’s family was notified soon after she was identified, and her body was sent to Charleston for an autopsy. Investigators said the nature of her injuries was suspicious, and additional agencies were brought in to assist, including the West Virginia State Police, the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, the ATF, and the Mount Weather Police Department. Police also used specialized resources, including a K-9, a mobile crime scene unit, and extra manpower as the case developed.
Authorities later determined that Wilson’s death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. During the investigation, police developed a suspect: Zekhi Yael Pairidaeza, described in reports as an acquaintance of Wilson. Warrants were obtained, and investigators conducted a search at Pairidaeza’s residence on West Race Street in Martinsburg. He was arrested in Berkeley County on June 16, 2023, and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Wilson’s death.
After his arrest, Pairidaeza was held at Eastern Regional Jail without bond. Public reports at the time identified him as the primary suspect and stated that the case had moved from a suspicious death investigation to a homicide case with a suspect in custody. The available online reporting located for this synopsis did not show a finalized trial outcome, conviction, or sentencing information, but it did confirm that Pairidaeza was charged with first-degree murder after police connected him to the investigation into Hannah Wilson’s killing.
