BOONE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Boone County man has been arrested and charged with murder following a deadly incident last week that initially appeared to be a car accident.
On Monday, May 26, Boone County Deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Seng Creek, near Whitesville. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered 61-year-old Sarah Callender, of Whitesville, lying near the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency crews worked to extract 65-year-old Henry Ray Aliff from the driver’s seat of the wrecked vehicle. Aliff and Callender were known to be in a domestic relationship for several years.
However, after an initial investigation, deputies determined that Callender had not been ejected from the vehicle, but had instead been run over. Based on evidence at the scene and visible injuries, authorities concluded that her death was not accidental.
Aliff was hospitalized following the crash due to an unrelated medical issue and was released earlier today. He was immediately taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for murder in connection to Callender’s death.
“We were happy to be able to take Mr. Aliff into custody today and start the process of holding him accountable for murdering Ms. Callender,” said Chief Deputy Mark Abbott. “The circumstances surrounding this crime are horrific, premeditated, and intentional.”
Aliff was arraigned by a Kanawha County Magistrate and is currently being held at South Central Regional Jail. The investigation remains ongoing.
