ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Freeman Arrested Second Time On West Virginia Murder Charge





Charles Freeman

Charles Freeman

Charles Steven Freeman, 52, Archbold, was arrested at his residence in the Fairlawn Apartments on a murder charge stemming from the 1999 disappearance of two women.

APD received a call from West Virginia authorities on Wednesday, July 16, that there was “a full extradition warrant for a person living” at the apartments.

“Upon confirming receipt of the warrant, (another offi cer) and I proceeded to the residence and made contact with (Freeman)” at about 4:15 pm, the officer stated in his report.

“Upon making contact, the subject was placed under arrest and transported to CCNO.”

It’s the second time Freeman has been charged with murder by West Virginia officials.

Freeman was first arrested along with David Hughes, 58, Archbold, Sept. 19, 2013, on two counts each of murder, kidnapping, and robbery.

At that time, Freeman was arrested at a Napoleon apartment; no definite address for him was available.

Also arrested in connection with the case in West Virginia was Joseph Metz, 39.

The Women

Metz is the son of Mary Friend and grandson of Maxine Stalnaker. The two were reported missing in Lewis County, W.Va. on Dec. 1, 1999.

West Virginia authorities allege that in 1999, Hughes was the owner of The Plantation, a combination motel, restaurant, and auto service facility in Jane Lew, W.Va., about five miles north of the Lewis County seat of Weston.

Allegedly, Hughes, Freeman, and Metz were involved in a criminal enterprise, and one of the women had records of the illegal operation, written on a paper tablet in her purse.

The first theory in the case was that Hughes ordered Metz and Freeman to kidnap the women, get the tablet with the incriminating information, then murder them.

While Friend’s car was found five days after they were reported missing, and a purse belonging to one of the women was found in 2002, their bodies were never recovered despite extensive searches of the area.

Dismissed

The charges against the three men were dismissed on Nov. 8, 2013, on a technicality, but authorities reserved the right to refile charges against the men.

The magistrate that handled the arrest warrants had been a deputy sheriff involved in the original inves- tigation into the disappearance of the two women.

Hughes was rearrested, then freed on $50,000 bond on Dec. 4, 2013, on a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Metz was rearrested and charged with two counts of murder on Jan. 9, 2014.

Hughes entered a guilty plea in February. In return, then-Lewis County prosecuting attorney Michael Smith agreed to recommend probation.

The new theory of the case was Hughes ordered Metz to get the tablet of business records from the women, but (Metz) went beyond what Hughes envisioned.

Locally

Archbold police cited Freeman at 2:24 am, Sunday, July 6, for driving while his license was suspended at the 400 block East Lutz Road.

On Wednesday, July 9, he entered a guilty plea to no valid operator license. He was fined $200, and $88 in court costs were assessed. He was ordered to complete 30 hours of community service.

As of Sunday evening, July 20, Freeman was being held at CCNO.


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