BANCROFT, WV. (THECOUNT) — West Virginia State Police are investigating after the body of a Bancroft man was discovered Thursday morning in a rural area of Putnam County, with authorities deeming the death suspicious.
Troopers identified the deceased as 61-year-old Alfred Hedrick, of Bancroft. His body was found off Route 62 near Plymouth Hollow, an area that includes restricted-access land within the Amherst-Plymouth Wildlife Management Area.
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According to state police, gas company employees discovered the body while servicing a gas well Thursday morning. The workers immediately notified authorities. Troopers noted the roadway where Hedrick was found is typically closed to private vehicles.
West Virginia State Police have not released details regarding the cause of death or how long the body may have been at the location. Officials have also not said whether Hedrick was reported missing prior to the discovery. The investigation remains active.
As investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding Hedrick’s death, court records show he had prior contact with law enforcement in Putnam County.
In August 2020, Alfred Ernest Hedrick, then 55, was charged with child abuse and domestic battery, according to a criminal complaint filed in Putnam County Magistrate Court. Officers responded on Aug. 27, 2020, to a residence on Jefferson Street in Bancroft after receiving a call from a child reporting he had been beaten by his parents.
According to the complaint, the 9-year-old victim told officers that after returning home from a bike ride, his parents began yelling at him to leave the house. When the child asked what he had done wrong, investigators said Hedrick allegedly struck him in the face.
The complaint stated the child told officers his father hit him with an open hand. Officers documented bruising on the child’s forehead and left cheek.
While officers were speaking with the child, Hedrick arrived at the scene on a bicycle. According to the report, officers noted the odor of alcohol on his breath. Hedrick became upset when questioned and was taken into custody.
At the time, Hedrick was held at Western Regional Jail on a $15,000 surety or cash bond, according to court records. The disposition of those charges was not immediately available in connection with Thursday’s death investigation.
Authorities have not indicated whether Hedrick’s prior criminal history is related to the circumstances of his death. No suspects or persons of interest have been announced, and investigators have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected.
The Amherst-Plymouth Wildlife Management Area is a large, rural tract of land managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and consists of wooded terrain and limited public access roads. Route 62 runs through portions of Putnam County and serves both residential and rural communities.
State police said additional information will be released as the investigation continues.
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