A Meigs County man is being held on $500,000 bond after a series of weekend incidents in which he allegedly shot his daughter in the back of the head, shot and killed her dog and burned his home.
Joseph W. Lemaster, 33, of Long Bottom, was arrested Sunday and is due to appear in Meigs County Court at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 30 for a preliminary hearing.
His 16-year-old daughter, whose name was not released by police or court officials, remained hospitalized Tuesday, according to Sheriff Robert Beegle.
The shooting occurred around 11:15 p.m. Saturday outside Lemaster's mobile home, Beegle said.
"We don't know exactly what led to the shooting," he said. "He had been drinking, and there was an argument."
Beegle said the girl, who visited Lemaster on weekends, was attempting to leave the residence in a family car when Lemaster allegedly shot a .22-caliber rifle into the car, striking her in the back of the head.
Beegle said the girl traveled to a nearby residence for assistance and was transported by medical helicopter to a Huntington, W.Va., trauma center. She is expected to recover from her injuries, he said.
Lemaster could not be located immediately following the shooting. Beegle said the man had wandered along a road until someone picked him up and drove him home.
"He commented (to that person) he was going to commit suicide and burn down his trailer," Beegle said. "Shortly after that conversation, we got a call of a fire."
Beegle said Lemaster was seen watching the fire from a nearby hillside.
"He was wrapped in a blanket, sitting on the ground, watching it burn," he said.
Officers didn't catch up to the man until 10 a.m. the next day when he was again seen in the woods near his home.
Beegle said the fire was determined to have been intentionally set; however, he was not sure arson charges would be filed.
"I'm not sure we can charge him with arson because he burned his own property," he said. "There was no attempt at fraud, and it wasn't the property of another. The (state) fire marshal will make that decision, though."
Beegle said Lemaster has "been in some minor trouble in the past." He said the man's criminal history was mostly related to alcohol abuse and did not include any acts of violence.
