WAYNE CO, WEST VA TRIO ARRESTED AFTER SHOPLIFTING REPORT AT LOUISA WALMART LEADS TO HEROIN DISCOVERY IN THEIR AUTOMOBILE
TWO MALE SUSPECTS AND FEMALE SUSPECT ACCUSED OF ORGANIZED CRIME SCHEME
APRIL 28, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
THE THREE HEROIN & SHOPLIFTING WEST VIRGINIA STOOGES: MARY ELIZABETH BEEKMAN, 41, ANDREW WILLIAM HARDWICK, 39, & JAMESON JOE WATTS, 52, ALL FROM WAYNE, WEST VIRGINIA; WERE ARRESTED SUNDAY NIGHT, APRIL 26, ON CHARGES CONNECTED WITH GETTING NABBED FOR SHOPLIFTING AT THE LOUISA WALMART, AND ALSO FOUND TO BE IN POSSESSION OF HEROIN.
A shoplifting attempt by a trio from the neighboring county in West Virginia, instead led to the discovery in a vehicle the three were in of an illegal narcotic in the car they were sitting in, following an investigation at the Walmart in Louisa, that ended with the arrest of the out of state trio .
According to the Louisa Police Department, on Sunday night, April 26, they received a call from the Walmart store in Louisa of a shoplifting case incident by the Walmart Asset Protection guard of ongoing shoplifting activity. Video surveillance showed two men conducting criminal activity in the store.
Shortly thereafter, Louisa Police Department patrolman officer Chase Kirk located the two men, along with a woman sitting in an automobile in the Walmart parking lot. All three individuals, who were later identified as Mary Elizabeth Beekman, 41, of Wayne, West Virginia; Andrew William Hardwick, 39, of Wayne, West Virginia; and Jameson Joe Watts, 52, of Wayne, West Virginia.
According to the arrest citation, officer Chase Kirk was given evidence of the ongoing shoplifting activity, which the report states that Andrew Hardwick and Jameson Watts, along with Mary Beekman, were identified through video surveillance.
Officer Kirk located Mary Beekman, who was found in a shared vehicle. where suspected illegal substances were observed in plain view. The report states she consented to a search, during which stolen merchandise and drug paraphernalia were allegedly recovered. Officers also indicated the substance found was believed to be heroin. Both Andrew Hardwick and Jameson Watts were also found in possession of suspected heroin at the time of their arrests. All three were charged in the arrests by officer Chase Kirk with the following:
Mary Elizabeth Beekman was charged with:
*THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING OR DISPOSITION SHOPLIFTING;
*POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN), *DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.
Andrew William Hardwick was charged with:
*ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME;
*POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN),
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.
Jameson Joe Watts was charged with:
*ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME;
*POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (HEROIN),
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS;
*PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL).
Mary Beekman was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for medical clearance, and after her being medically cleared, she along with Andrew Hardwick and Jameson Watts were then transported to, booked and lodged into the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville.
