On May 10, 2021, a double homicide occurred in the Guyandotte area of Huntington, West Virginia, resulting in the deaths of Andrea Burnette, 35, and Terence Holmes, 31. The victims were found with gunshot wounds to the head inside Burnette's residence in the 700 block of Fifth Avenue.
The investigation, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the Huntington Police Department, U.S.
Marshals Service, West Virginia State Police, and the FBI, led to the identification of two suspects: Marcellas Mitchell and Dakota Keaton. Marcellas Mitchell, 29, of Garden City, Michigan, and Dakota Keaton, 25, of Huntington, West Virginia, were both charged with two counts of murder in connection with the case.
Marcellas Mitchell was alleged to have had a personal relationship with Andrea Burnette, having lived with her for two months prior to the murders. Detectives uncovered that Mitchell was upset because Burnette was allegedly stealing money and drugs from him, disrupting his drug trafficking activities. In the days leading up to the shooting, Mitchell made accusations against Burnette and threatened to harm her.
Mitchell allegedly reached out to Dakota Keaton to assist in the killing, offering him $2,000 cash and an 8-ball of drugs as payment. A credible witness testified that Keaton had confessed to being involved in the killings. The motive behind the murders was tied to the sale of drugs in Huntington, with both suspects believed to be part of a Detroit-based drug trafficking organization.
The arrests of the suspects were carried out with the assistance of various law enforcement agencies. Marcellas Mitchell was arrested by U.S. marshals in Garden City, Michigan, on March 12, 2022, after warrants were obtained on March 11. Dakota Keaton was arrested on March 15, 2022, in the 600 block of Richmond Street in Guyandotte, following surveillance by the Huntington Police Department's Investigations Unit.
During the preliminary hearings, a detective from the Huntington Police Department, Kevin Miller, testified about the evidence gathered. This included surveillance video showing two unidentifiable individuals entering Burnette's home around 12:30 a.m. on the night of the murders. Witness testimony also indicated that Mitchell and Keaton went into the residence with guns, and it was believed that something happened with Keaton's firearm, leading investigators to suspect Mitchell as the primary shooter.
In subsequent developments, Dakota Keaton pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. His sentencing was scheduled for November, and he was being held at the Southwestern Regional Jail. Marcellas Mitchell, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was set for further hearings, with his next court date scheduled for March 7, 2023.
The case highlighted the complexities and dangers associated with drug trafficking and the violent disputes that can arise from such activities. The extensive investigation and cooperation among law enforcement agencies were crucial in bringing the suspects to justice.
