Austin Summers, a 21-year-old White male from Baxter, West Virginia, died on December 30, 2021. While his formal obituary detailed a life filled with interests in riding 4-wheelers, hunting, and fishing, the circumstances surrounding his death were the subject of a criminal investigation. He was remembered by his family as a carpenter and handyman with a love for animals.
Initial reports from authorities indicated a shooting incident in Marion County. Law enforcement responded to the scene in Baxter, and it was soon confirmed that the case was being investigated as a homicide.
The investigation led to the identification of a suspect, and an arrest was made in connection with the shooting death of Summers.
Subsequently, the Marion County Grand Jury handed down an indictment for first-degree murder against the individual arrested in the case. This legal step signified that the prosecutor's office had presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. The matter then moved into the jurisdiction of the Marion County Circuit Court for further legal proceedings.
