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Deem set to be arraigned Oct. 14

By Staff Reports 4 min read

PARKERSBURG - A Parkersburg woman has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing another woman outside her apartment Monday.

Samantha Deem, 33, of Parkersburg was arrested Monday evening, hours after she allegedly shot Jessica Lively, 35, of Raleigh County following a verbal dispute at a Seventh Street apartment building, according to a press release issued by Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board early Tuesday morning.

The preliminary hearing for Deem in Wood County Magistrate Court is set for 1 p.m. Oct. 14 before Magistrate Jody Purkey.

Police officers were dispatched at approximately 1:32 p.m. Monday to 800 Seventh St. in reference to a shooting. Lively was found lying in the hallway of the apartment complex, and, despite attempted life-saving measures by emergency medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries, the release says.

The investigation proceeded into the evening, with witnesses providing information identifying Deem as the shooter, the release says.

Investigation revealed Lively and a male subject went to the apartment building to speak to a friend who lives there, the release says. They knocked on the door, and Deem answered. Lively and Deem became involved in an argument and Deem retrieved a firearm and shot Lively once in the chest, the release says.

A witness stated Lively was holding a knife that was approximately a foot-long down by her side, according to the criminal complaint filed in Wood County Magistrate Court.

"The witness stated the victim was calm and never made any sort of statement or movement that would have been threatening toward the defendant," the complaint said.

The witness said Deem saw the knife and indicated to the victim that she had a gun and would shoot her.

"At this time, the witness observed the defendant produce a pistol and shoot the victim," the complaint said. "The witness stated she saw the victim fall to the ground with the knife falling on the ground beside of her.

"The witness emphasized that at no time did the victim raise the knife or threaten the defendant with it at any time."

After that Deem and her companion fled, the criminal complaint said. The witness and a man who lived in the apartment also fled the scene.

The male companion with Deem was later found by police. He confirmed they were there looking for a man who lived in the apartment, according to the complaint.

The witness stated he was facing the other way when the shot went off, but when he turned around he saw the victim fall to the ground. He said Deem also fled, but did not know where she went, nor did he know her name.

He said he picked up his things and left when he realized Lively was dead.

"(The witness) advised he did not witness the victim to have a knife in her hand but did note that she had one in her backpack which investigators observed on scene," the criminal complaint said.

Ultimately, Deem surrendered to law enforcement and was taken into custody and placed in the Wood County Holding Facility. Although she is to be arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court, bond must be set in Circuit Court because murder is a capital offense.

The release says Lively and Deem knew each other and there is no further danger to the public. It also asks anyone with information related to the incident to contact Det. D.W. Eichhorn II at 304-424-8539.

The department in the release thanks the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, West Virginia State Police, Parkersburg Fire Department and Camden Clark Ambulance Service for their assistance in the investigation.

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board could not be reached for further comment.

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