Mingo, W.Va. Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

MINGO W.VA. —West Virginia State Police Officer, Cory Maynard, 37, died from a gunshot wound after responding to a call of shots fired in Mingo County, near Matewan on Friday and the man who allegedly shot him, Timothy Kennedy, 29, of Matewan, is in custody.

Kennedy fled the scene after the incident and after an hours-long manhunt, was taken into custody Friday night in a stolen vehicle which was stopped at a law enforcement checkpoint. At the time, he was considered armed and dangerous and people were advised that if they saw him to not approach him and to notify authorities. They were also advised to shelter in place while they looked for him.

Kennedy is charged with first-degree murder and is being held in Southwestern Regional Jail without bond.

Kennedy was arraigned via video in Mingo County Magistrate Court for first-degree murder on June 3.

Maynard arrived at the scene and Kennedy allegedly began firing his weapon. Maynard was shot and taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Benjamin Adam Baldwin, 39, was found shot at the home and is currently in stable condition, according to a report from WCHS-TV.

A memorial service for Maynard will be held Wednesday at the Mingo Central High School gymnasium.

Family members reportedly told 13 News that Sgt. Maynard is an organ donor and is still saving lives. His wishes were to donate his organs and then be cremated.

The procession route to honor the life of Sgt. Cory S. Maynard will proceed from Mingo Central High School onto King Coal Highway, continuing onto Rt. 65, continuing onto Rt. 52, continuing onto 119 North to Chapmanville, W.Va. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Evans Funeral Home & Cremation Srevices at Chapmanville, W.Va.

There is a GoFundMe for Sgt. Maynard at https://www.gofundme.com/f/west-virginia-state-trooper-cory-maynard.

The West Virginia State Police said Maynard was with the WVSP since Oct. 9, 2007 He was also a 15-year Veteran and an organ donor. He was married to Rachael Maynard and the couple had two children, a 13-year-old and a 9-year-old, and was from Belfry.

In 2015, Maynard was awarded the Lifesaving Award for saving a pursuit suspect’s life in January 2014. The pursuit suspect stabbed himself in the neck after he crashed his vehicle and Maynard applied bandages and pressure to save the man’s life.

Maynard served 15 years with the West Virginia State Police. He began working at an early age at Food city with his wife Rachael, where he formed many relationships that lasted his lifetime. He was a proud patriot of “Merica” and an avid fan of baseball, especially the Baltimore Orioles, and he loved traveling to Ireland and listening to jazz music.

He is survived by his parents, Steven Walter Maynard and Leslie Cather Maynard; his wife, Rachael Maynard; his two children, Zoe Aislinn and Finnegan Cory Maynard; two sisters, Patricia Bennett and Sara Maynard, and a host of other relatives as well as his West Virginia State Police family.

Governor Jim Justice issued a proclamation ordering that all United States and West Virginia flags on all State-owned facilities be displayed at half-staff, beginning immediately in honor and remembrance of Sgt. Maynard of the West Virginia State Police.

The flags are to remain at half-staff through the day of services celebrating his life.

“I am absolutely heartbroken tonight to report that Sgt. Cory Maynard of the WVSP was fatally wounded in an incident this afternoon near Matewan,” Justice said in a statement following the incident. “Cathy and I share our deepest sympathies and our heartfelt prayers to all of Trooper Maynard’s loved ones and the entire law enforcement community of West Virginia for this tragic loss tonight. The brave men and women of law enforcement, and all first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, are an inspiration to us all. I again ask all West Virginians to join Cathy and I in embracing Trooper Maynard’s family, loved ones, and all of our courageous West Virginians in uniform during this incredibly difficult time.”