Arrest Warrants Issued For Three People Once Trapped In WVa. Mine

NBC News, 2 hrs. ago. A West Virginia sheriff’s office said Friday they have obtained arrest warrants for three people who entered an idled coal mine and were rescued in a days-long effort earlier this month.

The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that arrest warrants have been obtained for Kayla Williams, Erica Treadway and Cody Beverly “for entering the idled mine near Clear Creek that resulted in them being rescued by mine safety personnel. Sheriff’s Lt. M.A. McCray said that the charges are for entering the mine and conspiracy.

The three people and another man, Eddie Williams Jr., entered the Rock House Powellton mine sometime before they were reported missing Dec. 8. Eddie Williams got out of the mine on his own Dec. 10 and gave authorities the location of the other three, saying they were still alive, officials said. The sheriff’s office said Thursday that it had arrest warrants for Eddie Williams, who has been charged with entering without breaking, conspiracy and giving false information to law enforcement.

A large rescue effort was launched that involved the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, as well as the National Guard. Kayla Williams, Treadway and Beverly were rescued on Dec. 12.

A criminal complaint filed against Eddie Williams says he and the other three allegedly went to the mine at around 3 a.m. on Dec. 8 on Beverly's four-wheeler, that Williams initially told law enforcement that Kayla Williams, Beverly and Treadway entered the mine without him, but that he later changed his story and said they went in together to steal copper, according to NBC affiliate WVVA of Bluefield. "It was extremely dangerous and it risked the lives of mine safety workers," McCray said. . .

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