A Virginia man charged with killing his girlfriend in the Buckhannon Wal-Mart parking lot in January 2009 has pleaded guilty to the charges. He now faces sentencing in the case at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Ridge Lee Huffman, 20, allegedly left the woman's body in his car parked at his father's residence about three miles from the store. The victim was identified as 20-year-old Rebekah Jane Gibson of Waynesboro, Virginia.
Huffman was indicted on charges of first-degree murder in the May 2009 term of the Upshur County grand jury. His case was scheduled for trial Aug. 18.
Upshur County Prosecuting Attorney Jake Reger said Monday that the state will recommend mercy. The penalty for first-degree murder could result in life imprisonment, but the mercy recommendation means that Huffman could be eligible for parole in 15 years, according to Reger.
On Jan. 28, 2009, Buckhannon police received a call to respond to Huffman's father's home at 129 Railroad Ave. It was there that they discovered Gibson's body in the front passenger seat of Huffman's white Nissan. Her body was covered with a blanket and a coat and police had to break the driver's side window to gain access. According to law enforcement officials, following an argument in the Wal-Mart parking lot, Huffman apparently broke a bottle over Gibson's head and then used the broken glass and a knife to inflict the fatal injuries.
