FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WDTV) – A murder trial began Tuesday in Fairmont in connection with what is considered a “suspicious” homicide in the fall of 2022.
Defendant Naquan Warren was charged with the alleged murder of 28-year-old Sean Gardiner.
In the prosecution’s opening statement, it was alleged that the victim, Gardiner, was involved in drug trafficking. The officer’s statement states that cutting agents were found at the crime scene and field tests came back positive for fentanyl.
Prosecutors allege that Gardiner’s partner, 33-year-old Shekea Fox of Fairmont, plotted to steal drugs and about $10,000 with the defendant’s help.
Prosecutors say calls and text messages were exchanged between Fox and Warren prior to the alleged murder.
The prosecutor further says the alleged plan was to knock Gardiner unconscious while he was sleeping and then rob him. However, the prosecutor says instead of knocking Gardiner unconscious, the defendant allegedly hit Gardiner in the head at least 10 times with a metal baseball bat.
A detective testified that nine teeth were found at the crime scene and several rooms were splattered with blood. The detective described it as one of the most brutal scenes he had ever witnessed.
Fox and Warren allegedly left the body there for two days before Fox called the police.
The defense argued that no murder weapon was ever found and that there was no DNA evidence linking defendant Warren to the alleged murder.
Fox, on the other hand, was allegedly found with the victim’s blood-stained cell phone in the trunk of her car.
The defense says Fox made a deal to testify against Warren and drop the murder charges against her.
The trial will continue on Wednesday. Fox is expected to testify.
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