On a summer day in August 2021, the life of 30-year-old Stephanie Marie Weis, a White female from Kingwood, West Virginia, was tragically cut short. On August 8th, she was fatally shot in a residence on Pleasantdale Road. The circumstances of her death would remain concealed for two days, wrapped in a narrative of conflicting stories and deceit.
When West Virginia State Police responded to a call about an altercation involving a firearm on the evening of August 10th, they were met in the front yard by 36-year-old David A. Wilhelm. He initially claimed that Stephanie had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, stating that she had been threatening to kill herself and was shot when he lunged to take the gun from her. However, his account of the events would change multiple times during interviews with investigators.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered a grim scene that immediately contradicted Wilhelm's initial statement.
Stephanie's body was found in a basement hallway, concealed under a blanket with a black garbage bag over her head and upper torso. A gunshot wound was apparent near her left eye. Investigators also found a trail of blood and what appeared to be drag marks leading from the upstairs dining room down to where her body was discovered. This evidence suggested that she had been shot upstairs and then moved. The firearm believed to be involved was later located under the master bathroom sink.
As the investigation progressed, it became clear that Wilhelm did not act alone in the aftermath of Stephanie s death. Two other men were arrested and charged as accessories after the fact. Walter Little, 47, was taken into custody after investigators learned he was present at the residence when Stephanie was shot and failed to report the death. He also allegedly assisted Wilhelm in concealing the crime. Another man, David W. Adams Jr., 40, was also charged as an accessory for his alleged role in hiding the handgun used in the shooting.
David A. Wilhelm was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for his role in the death of Stephanie Marie Weis. He was subsequently held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail. The two other men, Walter Little and David W. Adams Jr., faced felony charges for their attempts to cover up the crime.
