Published: July 17, 2009 09:02 pm      

Police arraign suspect in Princeton homicide

PRINCETON — A suspect in the death of a Princeton man was arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder Friday evening in Mercer County Magistrate Court.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Friday afternoon that a 58-year-old white male who was a resident of a home on Harley Drive, Princeton died Thursday at his residence.

Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Timm Boggess identified the victim as Lester Sloane, and said that the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department has a suspect in custody.

Later than evening, Bruce Lee Milam, 33, of the Spanishburg-Kegley area was brought before Magistrate Mike Flanigan for arraignment. Milam is being held without bond at the Southern Regional Jail near Beckley. Bond in cases of first-degree murder must be set by a circuit court judge.

“This investigation has been a joint effort on the part of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police,” Boggess said. “Both agencies worked this investigation together, both agencies were at the crime scene shortly after the crime was reported and both agencies worked very hard together,” Boggess said.

“We’re all working very hard on the investigation,” Captain Darrell Bailey of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department said.

Detective L.B. Murphy of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department said after the arraignment at the Mercer County Courthouse Annex that the victim had “suffered severe stab wounds and slices to the neck area.”

Robbery appeared to be the motive, Murphy said.

Murphy, Detective R.M. Combs and Detective D.W. Sparks had apprehended the suspect within 17 hours. Milam was located in the Lindside community in Monroe County. Combs said the sheriff’s department wanted to thank both the Princeton Rescue Squad and the West Virginia State Police for their help in the case.

Some residents of the community appeared to be almost in a state of shock Friday as the regional media gathered to report on the incident and other people drove through the area to look at the scene. A neighbor characterized the victim as a “kind person,” but asked not to be interviewed on record.

With the exception of the curious visitors, most homes in the community showed no signs of outdoor activities taking place at mid-day on Friday. Investigators received the initial call at about 8 p.m., Thursday, and were on the scene until shortly before noon on Friday.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com