Charleston, WV – Authorities have identified the victim in an ongoing Kanawha County homicide investigation that began after a burning vehicle was discovered earlier this month along Cabin Creek Road.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has positively identified the victim as Joseph Ephraim Lovett, 28, of Hurricane, West Virginia. Officials said Lovett’s next of kin has been notified.
The investigation stems from the discovery of a burning vehicle on Saturday, June 14, 2026, in the 300 block of Cabin Creek Road.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators previously identified Harold Ishameul Patterson, 27, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, as the suspect in the case. Patterson was arrested on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Scotland County, North Carolina, following a coordinated investigation involving the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Laurinburg Police Department.
Authorities said Patterson has been charged with first-degree murder. The allegations have not been proven in court.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said it is awaiting Patterson’s extradition from North Carolina so he can be returned to West Virginia to face the charge.
According to investigators, the homicide investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at (304) 357-0556.
