Margaret Ann 'Peggy' Osborn, a 77-year-old resident of Rosedale, West Virginia, lost her life to gun violence on May 25, 2021. The incident occurred at her home, where she was the only family member present, as the rest of her family had traveled to Ohio for a wedding.
The investigation revealed that the perpetrator was Thomas Cain, a 55-year-old man who had been living with the Osborn family.
Cain had a prior connection with the family, having dated one of Peggy's daughters in the past and maintaining a relationship with the family as a friend. In the summer preceding the incident, the Osborns had invited Cain to live with them and work as a ranch hand after he was released from jail. This decision was made despite Cain's history of violence, including a 2017 incident where he shot a man in the face.
Cain had been assisting Peggy with her daily needs as her health began to decline, and he had also undertaken tasks such as repairing the long dirt road leading to the family's home. However, this trust was tragically betrayed when Cain turned against Peggy. According to the troopers, Cain was the only person with Peggy at the time of the incident, and he was identified as the person who murdered her.
The family expressed deep shock and grief over the event, with Faye Osborn, Peggy's oldest daughter, stating, 'We trusted the person who murdered my mother. We never thought that this would ever happen in our peaceful home.'
Thomas Cain's actions led to his immediate identification as the suspect, and he was subsequently held accountable for Peggy Osborn's murder. The incident highlights the tragic consequences of trusting someone with a history of violence and the devastating impact such actions can have on families.
