SHINNSTON, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) – Authorities in West Virginia say remains found at the home of a sex offender have been identified as a woman missing since August of last year.
The body was identified as 34-year-old Christa Merrill, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
She was last seen wearing a hoodie and sweatpants. Merrill told her family she would return the following day but never arrived.
Deputies said her remains were found at the home of Andrew Debolt. Detectives located the human remains with the assistance of the FBI while executing a search warrant.
Debolt was most recently arrested for a stabbing in Enterprise in November. Before that, he was arrested by the U.S. Marshals after a standoff in December of 2019.
In 2016, Debolt was sentenced to federal prison on a firearms charge. During that sentencing, they mentioned his prior felony convictions for sexual abuse and domestic violence in Harrison County, which prohibited him from having a gun.
No cause of death has been provided, as additional testing is necessary.
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