Hess in court for attempted murder | News, Sports, Jobs

Charles Clinton Hess IV

PARKERSBURG – A man wanted for attempting to murder his mother and then setting fire to her home is in custody at the North Central Regional Jail.

Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wood County Sheriff's officers arrested Charles Clinton Hess IV in a wooded area off 1882 Buckner Bend Road, according to a post on the Wood County Sheriff's Facebook page.

On Sunday, officers responded at 7:59 a.m. to a report of a domestic situation in the area of ​​1882 Buckner Bend Road where a woman had been stabbed in the head. Hess, 23, was accused of attacking his mother with a knife, causing non-life-threatening wounds to her head.

Hess had fled the area on foot when officers arrived on Sunday. The area was searched with sniffer dogs, but he was not found.

At around 2:12 a.m. Monday, Wood County 911 was notified of a structure fire at the residence. No one was home at the time. Hess was believed to have been involved in the fire, officials said.

Officers searched for Hess throughout Tuesday.

On Tuesday evening, officers observed Hess near a row of trees where they had been searching, the sheriff's department said in a press release.

“Hess was arrested without incident and taken to CCMC (WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center) for a medical evaluation before being taken to the Department of Corrections,” it said in the article.

Hess was arraigned on attempted murder charges via videoconference in Wood County District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Following further investigation, additional charges may be filed at a later date.

“We would like to thank all first responders who assisted with this event, including the Wirt, Ritchie and Jackson County Sheriff’s Offices for drone support, as well as the Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force, Wood County Fire Investigation Team and West Virginia State Police,” the sheriff's department said in its Facebook post. “Our additional thanks go to the residents of Buckner Bend who helped and supported us in our search efforts.”

Hess initially appeared before Wood County Judge Jody Purkey via video from the North Central Regional Jail. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled within 10 days, the deputy judge said.

Hess is being held on $50,000 cash bail.