West Virginia
W.Va. Gov.: WVSP referral didn’t make it to CPS, trooper should have done more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice confirmed that a West Virginia state trooper says he drove to a local child welfare office to report a suspected case of child neglect, however, that information never made it into the state’s Child Protective Services System.
Justice told reporters Friday that the trooper should have done more.
“If an officer went into an office and reported and and there was no follow up, nothing else happened, you know, what we’ve got to do is the officer has got to stand on the highest rock on the top of the mountain and scream loud enough to where something does happen,” he told reporters Friday during a virtual press briefing.
Those comments come amid a WSAZ Investigation, Deadly Details Denied.
Since April, WSAZ has been asking questions about the death of Kyneddi Miller, 14, of Boone County.
A childhood photo shows Miller smiling, however, years later, investigators say her life tragically ended. Deputies say her body was found in a skeletal state and she had not eaten for months.
Kyneddi’s mother and two grandparents were charged with child neglect resulting in death. All three have pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice, on April 23, told WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Curtis Johnson, “the CPS folks, from what I understand, had no idea about this child, no idea whatsoever.”
But WSAZ kept digging, asking questions as the station found state and federal law says, in the case of a child neglect fatality the state shall make public any history between the child and CPS.
Exactly the request WSAZ made using the state’s Freedom of Information Act, but the request denied.
Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily, in a May 8 interview, echoing on the Governor’s initial statement, saying her agency had no records in its system with Kyneddi’s name.
But an anonymous letter, received only by WSAZ, tells a much different story.
It details two referrals to CPS involving Kyneddi — one in 2009 and another in 2017. The letter even includes intake numbers assigned to the cases, along with dates, times, and even the names of supervisors and workers.
According to the letter, Kyneddi’s name was listed both times in the CPS system. Then, there was audio and a call log that WSAZ obtained from West Virginia State Police. It references a third referral involving Kyneddi.
In the audio, a trooper is heard talking with a dispatcher after a welfare check on the teen in March 2023.
Radio traffic stated, “on that CAD call reference that welfare check, I just made that CPS referral if you can just put it in the notes on it.”
Persily refusing to answer questions Tuesday, hours later questioning WSAZ’s reporting in a written statement, saying her department never received any referral related to Kyneddi’s death. She added the department’s search for the State Police referral suggests it was never made.
State Police, in response, said it stands behind the recording and log they provided WSAZ.
Friday, the governor addressed it publicly for the first time. ”Here’s what I know,” he said. “There’s an officer that says that he drove, you know, I guess his personal vehicle or whatever, and he drove to to the offices and and went in and and made that report. At the same time, there’s no evidence that I can uncover so far that a report was made.”
Moments later, Johnson asked the governor for clarity on whether CPS knew about Kyneddi before she died.
”Simply put, is there any record in the CPS system with Kyneddi’s name on it indicating she needed help? If not, what is your response to State Police who stand behind their records, and a whistleblower who says the ‘17 case listed Kyneddi as a specific child enduring mental and emotional abuse?“
”This investigation has got to go on, Curtis. It has got to go on,” Justice replied. “You know, really and truly, all I think I can do in trying to answer your questions is risking the investigation, and I’m not going to do that.”
With knowledge of state and federal law, WSAZ then looked at other states and found they release information and it’s timely.”
In Nevada, WSAZ found case after case where information on any CPS history was released just days after a child had died.
WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Sarah Sager took those examples to the governor after Friday’s briefing.
”I just wanted to give these to you,” Sager said.
”Listen, there’s no point,” Justice replied.
“There’s an investigation. We’ve got to finish the investigation, and really and truly, we need to be focused on how sad.” ”It is sad. This is from another state showing how quick they get referrals and information out,” Sager replied.
The governor then ended the conversation by getting into his vehicle and driving away.
WSAZ wanted Justice to have those reports from other states showing timely transparency on CPS history, so the station sent those examples to the governor’s staff Friday evening.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
Boulder, CO – No. 14 West Virginia took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter but shot 2-12 from the field and committed four turnovers in the final 10 minutes as the Colorado Buffaloes (10-2) went 9-11 from the floor and stormed back from a 16-point second half deficit to upset the Mountaineers (10-2) Saturday night 65-60.
West Virginia junior guard Jordan Harrsion led the Mountaineers with 18 points and five assists, but Frida Formann put in a game-high 22 points and forwards Lior Garzon and Jade Masogayo led the second half comeback to combine for 22 second half points.
West Virginia junior guard Syndey Shaw started the night with a three and a pair of steals in the backcourt by Harrison that led to layups gave the Mountaineers an early 7-6 advantage.
Frida Formann was off to a hot start, hitting her first three field goal attempts for seven of the nine Colorado points, including a three to give Colorado a 9-7 lead at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter.
The Mountaineers finished the first quarter with a 9-0 run with freshman forward Jordan Thomas leading the way with four points and a 16-9 WVU lead heading into the second quarter.
Jordan Harrsion opened the second quarter with a three to extend the lead to 10, but West Virginia went 3-9 and committed five turnovers while Colorado was 7-15 from the field and cut the deficit to three, 28-25, at the break.
Frida Forman led all scorers at the break with 15 points as Harrison scored a Mountaineer-high 12 points with two assists.
Jade Masogayo cut the WVU lead to one with a lay-in, but West Virginia responded with a 19-4 run, led by guard Kyah Watson putting in five of her eight points on the night for a 47-31 lead with 3:05 left in the third quarter.
Colorado began to build momentum heading into the fourth quarter, despite West Virginia leading by 11.
The Mountaineers went cold in the fourth quarter while the Buffaloes got hot. West Virginia missed its first four shots from the field while Colorado dwindled the lead to five before Harrison got the contested layup and ended a five-minute scoring drought.
The Buffaloes continued their momentum, while West Virginia struggled from the field and extending their run to 22-4 behind nine points from Garzon to build a seven-point lead with 36 seconds remaining in the game and held on for the 65-60 victory.
The West Virginia Mountaineers (8-2) host the Mercyhurst Lakers (6-8) for the first ever meeting between the two programs.
When: Sunday, December 22
Location: Morgantown, WV, WVU Coliseum (14,000)
Tip-off: 2:00 p.m. EST
Stream: ESPN+
Announcers: Nick Farrell, Warren Baker & Amanda Mazey
Radio: Tony Caridi (PBP), Brad Howe (analyst) Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College (Radio affiliates)
WVU Game Notes
– Mercyhurst is the 193rd different team to play a game vs. West Virginia in the WVU Coliseum (non-exhibition).
– West Virginia is 154-38 against teams making their first appearance in the Coliseum.
– West Virginia is currently ranked No. 28 in the latest NCAA NET rankings.
– West Virginia has won 88 of its last 96 games at home in the month of December.
– Javon Small was named co-Big 12 Player of the Week and Tucker DeVries was tabbed as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 2. Both were named to the Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team.
– Small was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week on Dec. 3.
– Small has scored 20 or more points in fi ve of WVU’s last seven games.
– With a win over No. 3 Gonzaga, WVU defeated a Top 5 AP team for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Mountaineers downed No. 3 Kansas in Morgantown, 91-85.
– West Virginia played three consecutive overtime games for the first time in school history.
– WVU is 142-13 at home against nonconference teams in the last 23 years, and has won 123 of its last 134 games.
– WVU is 615-187 (.767) all-time at the WVU Coliseum and 256-73 at the WVU Coliseum in the last 21 seasons.
– West Virginia is 206-56 against nonconference teams in regular season games in the last 21 seasons.
– The Mountaineers have posted a winning nonconference record in 32 of the last 33 seasons.
– WVU is 268-99 in its last 367 games against unranked teams, including winners of 151 of its last 183 at the WVU Coliseum.
– West Virginia is the only team in the country that has two players on the same team who averaged more than 20 points per game from last season — Tucker DeVries (21.6 ppg) and Jayden Stone (20.8 ppg).
– Darian DeVries, who led Drake to six consecutive 20-win seasons and has a career .735 winning percentage as a head coach, was named the 23rd head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University on March 24, 2024.
– DeVries has a record of 158-57 (.735) in seven seasons as a head coach, including a 63-17 (.788) mark in the last two-plus seasons.
– West Virginia returns just 2.8 percent of its scoring from last season’s team (Ofri Naveh).
– The Mountaineers are led by a pair of transfers in Tucker DeVries (Drake) and Javon Small (Oklahoma State). Last season, DeVries was named an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention selection, while Small earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.
– In addition, Eduardo Andre (Fresno State), Joseph Yesufu (Washington State), Sencire Harris (Illinois), Amani Hansberry (Illinois) and Jayden Stone (Detroit Mercy) were added from the transfer portal.
– WVU has a wealth of experience on its roster who have college basketball experience. Entering this season, they have combined to play 806 games, made 442 starts, scored 7,606 points, grabbed 3,304 rebounds and dished out 1,248 assists.
– Tucker DeVries was named to the 20-member Julius Erving Preseason Watch List, giving annually to the nation’s top small forward.
– Tucker DeVries was named to the preseason Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List.
– Tucker DeVries has scored the most points (1,867) of any senior (four-year players only) entering this season. He ranks eighth overall for career scoring by returning players (including fi fth-year) and third in the Big 12 Conference.
– Entering this season, Tucker DeVries has scored the fifth-most points in college basketball since 2021-22. He’s one of 12 players who have scored 1,800 or more points since 2021-22.
– Tucker DeVries has recorded 99 games in double figures.
– Tucker DeVries is 14 points shy of reaching 2,000 for his career.
– Toby Okani scored his 1,000th career point against Georgetown on Dec. 6.
– Javon Small is 17 points shy of scoring 1,000 for his career.
– Darian DeVries is 73-2 when scoring 80 or more points in a game and 139-17 when scoring 70 or more.
– Darian DeVries is 113-21 when holding opponents to 69 points or less and 53-6 when holding opponents to 59 points or less.
– West Virginia was predicted 13th in the Preseason Big 12 Poll by the league’s head coaches.
– West Virginia has made at least one 3-point fi eld goal in 874 consecutive games.
– The Mountaineers have won 150 of their last 168 games when holding opponents to 69 points or less.
– WVU has won 161 of its last 182 and 217 of its last 245 games when holding opponents to less than 69 points.
– West Virginia is 20-5 all-time in games played on December 22.
It’s no secret that the West Virginia coaching staff will be dipping its toes in the transfer portal this offseason, particularly on the defensive side of the ball in the secondary. The Mountaineers were one of the worst pass defenses in the Big 12 and ranked 121st out of 134 teams, allowing 267.9 yards through the air per game.
One player they have identified as a potential helping piece is Washington State transfer cornerback Stephen Hall, who received an offer from West Virginia on Friday. In twelve games this season, Hall recorded 45 tackles, three pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. Prior to his two years at Washington State, Hall spent the first two years of his career at Northwest Mississippi CC at the junior college level, where he made it to the national championship.
In addition to West Virginia, Hall has received offers from Houston, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, UNLV, USC, and Virginia Tech.
Technically, he has one year of eligibility remaining, but with the NCAA’s recent ruling regarding eligibility with those who took the junior college route, he may have an additional two years.
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