LESAGE, WV – A quiet stretch of Cabell County turned into a crime scene early Tuesday when deputies discovered three people stabbed to death inside a home, with a fourth person—later identified as the suspect—found nearby with what officials described as superficial injuries.
Joshua Deel, 39, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 39-year-old Shawn Deel, 18-year-old Abigale Sloan, and 16-year-old Dekota Sloan, according to the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded just before 5 a.m. to the 200 block of Hickory Grove Road following a report of a stabbing.
Inside the residence, officers found the three victims deceased. Deel was located face down near the front door and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Scene details and witness accounts
According to a criminal complaint obtained by WSAZ, Deel was found “laying face down in the living room near the front door, covered in blood,” and the home was described as “chaotic with blood everywhere throughout the residence.”
Investigators said Shawn Deel and her two children were living in the home with the suspect, despite the couple no longer being married.
While deputies initially escorted Deel to the hospital, they were called back to the residence as additional information emerged. Witnesses reported hearing a man yelling and arguing with a woman early that morning. According to the complaint, the woman’s voice “slowly decreased” and “ultimately became quiet.”
Conflicting statements and arrest
When questioned, Deel allegedly gave inconsistent accounts and claimed that an “unknown masked subject” had fled the home. Investigators said the claim did not align with evidence or witness statements gathered at the scene.
Authorities also stated that Deel admitted to an argument with one of the victims the night before the killings. According to the complaint, he told investigators he had placed his phone under a bedroom door in an attempt to take photos, and after being confronted said, “It’s not going to happen again.”
Deel was taken into custody after being released from the hospital and booked into the Western Regional Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 30.
