In the early morning hours of June 12, 2018, tragedy struck in Huntington, West Virginia, forever altering the lives of two families. Kelli Adkins, a 27-year-old Caucasian female from the nearby town of Wayne, was found dead from gunshot wounds inside an apartment in the 1300 block of Huntington Avenue. Alongside her was Melvin Courts Jr., a 26-year-old resident of Huntington, who had also been fatally shot.
The discovery of their bodies in the Oakview Apartments prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by local law enforcement, who quickly classified the case as a double homicide.
As detectives began to piece together the events of that fateful morning, the community was left in a state of shock and grief. Kelli, who worked in the home health industry, was remembered by her loved ones as a caring individual. The sudden and violent nature of her death sent ripples of sorrow through her hometown and the city of Huntington. Investigators diligently followed leads and conducted numerous interviews, determined to bring justice for Kelli and Melvin.
The meticulous work of the Huntington Police Department ultimately led to a breakthrough in the case. Their investigation pointed to Dalton Gaige McGuire, a 25-year-old man from Huntington, as the primary suspect. McGuire was subsequently arrested and faced the grave charges of two counts of first-degree murder. According to court records, he was alleged to have shot and killed both Adkins and Courts inside the apartment. Following his arrest, McGuire was held without bail at the Southern Regional Jail, awaiting legal proceedings. The arrest brought a semblance of resolution to the grieving families and the community, as they began the long process of healing from the senseless loss of two young lives.
