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HARMAN -- A Harman man has been charged with first degree murder in the death of a Ward Road man earlier this week.
Dallas Ray Bryant, 69, was charged Friday in the death of Preston L. "Patch" Higgins. He is being held in Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bond.
West Virginia State Police found Higgins in his driveway Monday with a gunshot wound to his chest, along with a bruise/abrasion to his forehead.
A release Saturday from the Elkins Detachment of the State Police said crime scene evidence and witness information led them to consider Bryant a person of interest in the case.
"Through investigation that followed, and evidence gathered from the crime scene, troopers discovered evidence which aided in the development of a person of interest which was seen with the victim prior the shooting," the release states.
"Troopers tracked down this individual, which eventually led to the discovery of information leading to the arrest of Dallas Ray Bryant, (of) Harman, on Friday for the murder of Preston L. Higgins."
Trooper B. K. Riffle of the Elkins Detachment is the investigating officer in the case.
Higgins was known throughout the Elkins area, and was a former employee with the City of Elkins, working as a custodian at City Hall and for the Street Department.
A neighbor who lived close to Higgins and wished to remain anonymous told The Inter-Mountain that Higgins had lived at his home on the Ward Road for more than 20 years.