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Body found in Barbour identified

Phillips

PHILIPPI — Law enforcement officials have identified the dead body found in Barbour County last week as a wanted sex offender.

The body located in the Sand Run area in Barbour County April 18 has been identified as Edward Neil Phillips, 46, of Belington, after a positive identification by the state Medical Examiner’s Office, according to a press release Wednesday from Chief Barbour County Sheriff’s Deputy Brett Carpenter.

Carpenter added the investigation will remain open as he is still waiting on the toxicology report as well as the cause of death to be determined by the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

Meanwhile, the West Virginia State Police issued a statement Wednesday saying troopers were searching for Phillips in February after he allegedly failed to register as a sex offender or provide notice of registration. His arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 8, police said.

Phillips had been arrested in 2016 and charged with one felony count of possession of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Carpenter requested that anyone with any information about Phillips’ death contact the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department at 304-457-2352

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