Crime & Safety
Kanawha County, WV Arrest: Stabbing Suspect Found in Dumpster
Clendenin, WV – A man wanted in connection with a triple stabbing was arrested Tuesday after a woman allegedly discovered him hiding inside a dumpster in the Clendenin area of Kanawha County, authorit
By Jordan Mercer · 2026-09-30T00:46:11.417Z
Clendenin, WV – A man wanted in connection with a triple stabbing was arrested Tuesday after a woman allegedly discovered him hiding inside a dumpster in the Clendenin area of Kanawha County, authorities said.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff ’s Office , Kelcey Nicholas was wanted in connection with a triple stabbing reported the previous week in the same area. Authorities said he had an active warrant charging him with three counts of malicious wounding .
The unusual discovery happened Tuesday afternoon in the Dutch Ridge Road area of Clendenin , northeast of Charleston. Deputies said a woman opened a dumpster and found Nicholas inside.
When he was discovered, Nicholas allegedly ran from the dumpster and fled into nearby woods.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office Field Operations B Shift and Warrants Division responded along with members of the U.S. Marshals Service Cuffed Task Force , beginning a search of the surrounding area.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team was then called to assist. Authorities said deputies used a drone equipped with thermal imaging technology to search the woods.
Investigators said the drone detected Nicholas through his heat signature, allowing deputies to locate him. He was taken into custody without further incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
Nicholas was expected to be arraigned Tuesday evening in Kanawha County Magistrate Court .
Authorities did not provide additional information in Tuesday’s release about the circumstances of the alleged triple stabbing or the conditions of those injured.
The charges are allegations, and Nicholas is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.