CHARLESTON, WV — December 4, 2025.
A Mingo County homicide case involving the killing of a West Virginia State Trooper ended in a mistrial today after Mingo County Circuit Judge Joshua Butcher announced in open court that a juror conducted outside research, violating jury instructions.

Judge Butcher stated that the juror searched online for “legal definitions” overnight during deliberations, an action the judge confirmed directly from the juror’s own admission in the courtroom. Because jurors are required to rely only on evidence and law presented during trial proceedings, the judge determined the outside research had compromised the fairness of deliberations.

Judge Butcher ordered an immediate mistrial on the record and dismissed the jury. He further stated that the case will be rescheduled for a new trial date, which will be set by the court in the coming days.

No additional details were provided in the courtroom regarding the upcoming scheduling, and no written order has yet been published by the judiciary at this time.

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Sources

PRIMARY FIRST-HAND SOURCES:

• Mingo County Circuit Court — Oral declaration of mistrial by Judge Joshua Butcher, delivered in open court on December 4, 2025.