Bradley Cantwell, 43, was led into the court of Wood County Circuit Judge J.D. Beane Monday where he entered into a plea agreement where he would plead, via an Alford plea, to two counts of second-degree murder. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG – A Walker man will accept the punishment for the murders of a Walker couple from May 2024.

Bradley Cantwell, 43, appeared, along with his attorney Joe Munoz, in the court of Wood County Circuit Judge J.D. Beane on Monday, to enter into an agreement where he would plead, via an Alford plea, to two counts of second-degree murder. An Alford plea indicates a defendant doesn’t admit guilt to the crimes, but acknowledges the court had enough evidence to be able to convict them of the charges.

He was charged in the May 19, 2024, deaths of James Clifton Bailey, 41, and Felicia Jean Goff, 40, of 389 Morgan Ridge Road, Walker, where a house fire occurred. As the fire was brought under control, firefighters gained entry to the residence and discovered two persons inside the structure, both deceased. It was later determined that both victims had died after sustaining gunshot wounds prior to the setting of the fire.

“The victims in this case were friends or acquaintances of Mr. Cantwell,” Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure recounted. “Mr. Cantwell lived in the area where they lived. There were times when the defendant would stay with them.”

A relative of Goff’s said there was an argument between Cantwell and the couple 2-3 days prior to this incident in which the couple accused Cantwell of stealing from them and Cantwell allegedly indicated he would come back and get them.

Defense attorney Joe Munoz confers with his client Bradley Cantwell Monday in the court of Wood County Circuit Judge J.D. Beane Monday where he entered into a plea agreement where he would plead, via an Alford plea, to two counts of second-degree murder. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

A relative of Cantwell’s took him to the area of the home of the couple a short time later under the guise of Cantwell needing to get some tools.

The relative watched as Cantwell went around the house. Lefebure said Cantwell entered the home.

It is believed Cantwell shot the pair on a Saturday and returned Sunday to set the fire to try to cover up the crime.

He told witnesses about the crime and evidence of the crime in the nearby woods, Lefebure said, adding that almost a year later, officers found what they believed to be the firearm used, hidden in a fallen tree.

Cantwell was initially indicted on two counts of murder, first-degree arson, two counts of concealment of a deceased human body and petit larceny.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Cantwell accepts the punishment for the two charges of second-degree murder, where he can be sentenced to 10-40 years in prison on each count, pay any restitution determined by the court and will be forthright and truthful with the prosecutor’s office and law-enforcement agencies about all criminal activity he is aware of. The state agrees to dismiss the remaining charges in the indictment.

In being questioned by Beane, Cantwell indicated he only made it to the seventh grade in school and he had spent time in a mental health facility being treated for suicidal depression.

Lefebure said he has consulted with the detectives in the case as well as the families of both victims.

“They are in favor of this plea agreement,” he said. “It was a long investigation that circumstantially put Mr. Cantwell at the residence, and through the investigation with Mr. Cantwell’s family as well as other members of the community we arrived at having enough evidence to charge him.

“Based on the nature of that investigation and the facts and circumstances within the case, we believe it to be the most appropriate to enter into this plea agreement, thereby securing the conviction for two second-degree murders and leaving the penalty up to this court.”

Beane accepted the plea and sentencing is set for 11 a.m. Monday, July 6.

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsansentinel.com