Accused of killing his live-in girlfriend in July, Noal D. Quattlebaum is left facing the possibility of life without parole after a grand jury returned indictments Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Quattlebaum, 22, strangled, bound and wrapped 21-year-old Amber Wesley's body in a blanket and left her at their Lang Farm Road residence on July 22.
Quattlebaum was one of 26 individuals indicted by a Washington County grand jury Tuesday, among them a man accused of stabbing a New Matamoras woman earlier the same day that Quattlebaum allegedly killed Wesley.
Wesley left behind two children, ages 2 years and 7 months.
Police said her possible involvement with another man and questions over the paternity of her youngest child might have contributed to her murder.
"They had a history of arguments ending in violent behavior," said Washington County Prosecutor Jim Schneider. "This ended up in very serious violent behavior."
Schneider declined to release more details about what may have led to Wesley's death.
Quattlebaum was charged with murder and aggravated murder. He can only be sentenced on one of the charges if convicted. Schneider said the distinction between the charges is whether or not the act was premeditated.
"The only difference is the element of prior calculation and design in an aggravated murder charge," Schneider said.
The difference in sentencing could be significant though. If convicted of the murder charge, Quattlebaum could be eligible for parole after 15 years. Aggravated murder could mean life without parole, Schneider said.
"That will be determined by the judge," Schneider said.
Schneider said the death penalty was not an option in the case.
"There would have to be other factors found to make this a capital offense, such as the victim being under (age) 13 or if the crime was for a sexual motivation, and that wasn't the case," Schneider said.
Quattlebaum remains in the Washington County Jail on $250,000 bond. His arraignment has not been scheduled.
In another indictment, Thaddeus J. Salomon, 19, of 61076 State Route 7, New Matamoras, is left facing between 10 and 18 years in prison. He is accused of stabbing 23-year-old Susan I. Lawson in the back, puncturing her lung, after he was asked to leave her residence, where he had been staying.
Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings said Lawson is still recovering from the attack but she was able to testify before the grand jury last week.
Salomon was charged with first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder, first-degree felony attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault.
Rings said Salomon can only be sentenced on one or two of the charges.
In addition to Noal D. Quattlebaum and Thaddeus J. Salomon, the following people were indicted by the Washington County grand jury:
Misty Gossett, 36, of McConnelsville, was charged with fifth-degree felony theft from an elderly person. Gossett is accused of taking money from a Waterford Township resident on June 23.
David Hughes Jr., 28, of 31 Garden City Road, Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony theft. Hughes is accused of stealing copper and other scrap from a Masonic Park Road residence.
Gary Mitchell, 38, of 16131 State Route 821, Macksburg, was charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated menacing and intimidation of a witness, third-degree felony intimidation of a witness and fifth-degree felony vandalism. Mitchell is accused of damaging a vehicle on June 18 and later threatening the victim not to press charges.
Timothy Ryan, 18, of 115 Byers Road, Marietta, was charged with third-degree felony retaliation. Ryan is accused of assault against an individual July 13 at 813 Quarry St., Marietta.
Polly Oblisk, 54, of 803 Fifth St., Apt. D, Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony trafficking in marijuana. Oblisk is accused of preparing marijuana for delivery or shipment on April 22.
Chad Schwendeman, 26, of 427 Strecker Lane, Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony trafficking in drugs. Schwendeman is accused of selling 15 prescription pills on April 6.
Charles Church, 21, of 1918 Two Mile Run Road, Cutler, was charged with third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of an officer, third-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault, fourth-degree felony vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Church is accused of fleeing from police July 19 and causing a crash that resulted in a passenger being injured.
Tara Burgett, 22, of Athens, was charged with fifth-degree felony passing bad checks. Burgett is accused of passing two bad checks at Washington County businesses in May.
Cynthia Dailey, 34, of 1125 Greene St., Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree complicity in theft. Dailey is accused in assisting in the theft of $640 in jewelry from Gold Line Jewelers, Front Street, Marietta.
Tommy Young, 41, of Ovapa, W.Va., was charged with fifth-degree felony illegal processing of drug documents. Young is accused of attempting to pass a forged prescription Feb. 11 at a Marietta business.
Beatrice Richards, 51, stated homeless, was charged with fifth-degree felony theft and fifth-degree felony forgery. Richards is accused of stealing checks and illegally signing up for utility service.
Nathan Goddard, 20, of 708 Seventh St., Marietta, was charged with third-degree felony burglary and third-degree felony grand theft. Goddard is accused of stealing guns from a Muskingum Township residence on April 21.
Tina Rizhaupt, 31, of 209 Elm St., Belpre, was charged with third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. Rizhaupt is accused of leading Marietta police in a high-speed pursuit on Aug. 7.
Ella M. Hartley, 47, of 602 W. Fourth St., Williamstown, was charged with third-degree felony trafficking in drugs, third-degree felony complicity in trafficking in drugs and second-degree felony corruption of another with drugs. Hartley is accused of setting up a drug sale and asking her 17-year-old son to complete the deal.
Nelson D. Lewis, 40, of 108 Berry Lane, Marietta, was charged with third-degree felony burglary and fifth-degree felony theft. Lewis is accused of stealing a 42-inch TV from a Muskingum Drive residence.
April Boggs, 30, of Longbottom, was charged with two counts of fifth-degree felony passing bad checks. Boggs is accused of passing two bad checks last December at Hocking Tire in Little Hocking.
Richard Flood, 42, of Parkersburg, was charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence. Flood is accused of assaulting a household or family member July 17 in Marietta.
Marty L. Bass, 29, of 702 Franklin Ave., Belpre, was charged with second-degree felony possession of drugs, third-degree felony possession of drugs, fifth-degree felony possession of drugs and third-degree felony escape. Bass is accused of being in possession of drugs during a March 24 traffic stop. Police said Bass attempted to escape arrest by fleeing on foot.
Lionel Gore, 21, of 120 Cemetery Drive, New Matamoras, was charged with fourth-degree felony assault of a police officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Gore is accused of assaulting a deputy July 4 in New Matamoras.
Lanae Neuenchwander, 40, of 1715 23rd St., Parkersburg, was charged with fifth-degree felony forgery. Neuenchwander is accused of stealing $1,500 from a former business partner.
Mitchell Needs, 18, last known address 121 Muskingum Drive, Marietta, was charged with third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third-degree felony escape and third-degree felony tampering with evidence. Needs is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old and then breaking detention during an Aug. 18 encounter with police.
Richard G. Newman II, 42, of Pennock Trailer Court Lot 21, Beverly, was charged with two counts of fifth-degree felony breaking and entering, fifth-degree felony theft and misdemeanor counts of theft. Newman is accused of stealing a TV and cookware from the Showboat Becky Thatcher.
Nathan Zinser, of 525 Eighth St., Marietta, was charged with first-degree felony rape. Zinser is accused of engaging in sex with a family member who was under the influence of a prescribed medication.
