(Photo by Evan Bevins) Gregory A. Casto, center, enters a Wood County Circuit courtroom Monday, following his attorney, Bill Merriman. A motion to set bond for Casto was denied by Judge J.D. Beane.

PARKERSBURG — The man charged in the 2014 murder of Cindy Ball will remain in jail after a Wood County judge denied a motion for bond on Monday.

Gregory Alan Casto, 56, of Walker, has been held in the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County following his arrest on Oct. 21 after a grand jury indicted him on charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a deceased human body.

The arrest happened nearly 11 years to the day after Ball was last seen leaving the Overtime Sports Bar in Parkersburg. Her body was found two days later, on Oct. 24, 2014, off Sugar Camp Road in Wirt County. She’d been shot in the back of the head, police said.

Casto appeared before Wood County Circuit Court Judge J.D. Beane on Monday morning, as his attorney, Bill Merriman, argued in favor of his release on “a reasonable bond.”

Merriman said his client is a lifelong Wood County resident who takes care of his elderly parents and had been employed for years at Marietta Memorial Hospital prior to his arrest. His ties to the community and his lack of a criminal record over the last 11 years are evidence he is neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community, Merriman said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Gregory A. Casto, center, enters a Wood County Circuit courtroom Monday, following his attorney, Bill Merriman. A motion to set bond for Casto was denied by Judge J.D. Beane.

“He’s here; he’ll stay here; he’s cooperated from the beginning of these allegations,” he said.

Merriman noted a trial is scheduled for March 10 and he received an external hard drive from the prosecution with more than 100 GB of data on it.

“I need Mr. Casto to be able to be present to help me assist in his defense,” he said.

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure acknowledged Casto had no criminal infractions over the last decade, but said circumstances may have changed now that he’s charged with murder. The nature of the crime, and Casto’s reportedly “tumultuous relationship” with Ball before her death, are arguments against his release, Lefebure said.

“I think he is a threat to society, based on the allegations against him,” he said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Gregory A. Casto, center, enters a Wood County Circuit courtroom Monday, following his attorney, Bill Merriman. A motion to set bond for Casto was denied by Judge J.D. Beane.

Merriman noted people are innocent until proven guilty, adding, “No innocent person should do a day in jail.” He also said Casto’s house had been broken into since his arrest.

“Not only has his liberty been taken from him, but his property’s been destroyed,” Merriman said.

Beane quickly ruled against the motion.

“At this time, no bond will be set,” he said.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard confirmed there had been a theft reported from Casto’s residence.

On Nov. 2, the same day Casto’s motorcycle was entered into the National Crime Information Center database, a deputy spotted someone riding it in the 2700 block of Murdoch Avenue, Woodyard said. The driver was identified as Stephen Chaz Vansickle, 42, 904 ½ Hawthorne St., Parkersburg, and he was arrested on charges of driving under suspension, receiving/transferring stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and fleeing from an officer. His bond was set at $40,000.

The theft of items from Casto’s house remains under investigation, Woodyard said.