‘FAMILY FEUD’ HAD BEGUN A MONTH AGO, SUSPECT SAYS

LOUISA, KY.  —  Stanley Webb Jr. was present in Lawrence District Court today for arraignment on two counts of murder and other related charges.

Webb appeared stone faced in court as KSP Det. David Boarman, the lead detective in the homicide investigation into the murders that occurred on April 2 on Knob Branch in Blaine, Ky., explained the charges against Webb, 48, of Columbus, Ohio.

New evidence was revealed as Det. Boarman testified. He stated that the defendant had admitted to the shootings and said they happened after a “falling out” earlier in the month with relatives Michael Gartin, 52,  and Lois “Peggy” Gartin, 79 the victims in the case.

Det. Boarman said Webb told investigators that he had “taken other relatives hostage in Ohio during his heroin induced rampage” and that he “stole another car that belonged to his sister to make the trip to Blaine to shoot and kill the victims”.

District Judge John Holbrook found that there was probable cause to carry on with the charges of murder, theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He then bound the case over to the grand jury for indictment.

At this time the grand jury has 60 days to return an indictment. The defendant was represented by the public defender’s office, Greg Griffith and Andy Hewlett from Boyd Co. He remains in custody under a $2 million bond at the BSRDC in Paintsville.

Included in the testimony…

“…Detective Boarman said he got a call from Sheriff Garrett Roberts’ office after they had received the call from Stanley Webb’s sister, Tina.  She called stating that she thought her brother had stolen a vehicle from the victims, Michael Gartin (her cousin) and Lois Gartin ( great aunt by marriage). Upon arriving at the scene the detective was met by Tina and her son.

They had made the trip from Ohio to retrieve her car in which Stanley Webb had taken without permission.

When the detectives walked into the scene they saw the deceased which was identified by Webb’s sister Tina. When interviewing Tina she had stated that her brother Stanley Webb had been living with her in Ohio. He had borrowed her car on Friday April 1st and when she didn’t hear from him, they exchanged several texts including one which stated “please don’t try to find me it’s too late for help I’m not going back to prison – tell all of my kids I love them I have things to do I’ll bring your car back I love you.”

At this time she noticed her weapons missing which was a 9 millimeter Hi-Point and and a .45 caliber Hi-Point. She texted her brother,  “I love you, where are my guns? …he replied, “I have them”. After several messages she could no longer get in touch with her brother anymore and in the middle of the night she received a call that her car had been located at the family farm in Kentucky.

She was unable at that time to retrieve her car and couldn’t do so until the next day, April 2nd. Before making the trip she finally met up with Stanley Webb at a gas station and noticed he was driving a blue Jeep Liberty which she knew belonged to the victims. Her son then drove her (from Columbus) to the residence on Knob branch in Blaine Kentucky.

There she found the victims shot and killed.

The detective observed that the shell casings, one next to victim Michael and another next to victim Lois, matched those of the 9 millimeter Hi-Point pistol that belong to Webb’s sister. The detectives retrieved all of the messages and evidence from Stanley Webb’s sister at that time. After reporting through NCIC that the Jeep Liberty that belonged to Lois Gartin had been stolen, Columbus Police Department officers picked up Stanley Webb. Detective Boarman from the KSP post 14 then went to Columbus to interview Webb and more of his family. Through interviews, he found out that Webb had been on a heroin induced spree holding other family members hostage and wreaking havoc until admittedly killing the Gartins over an argument earlier in the month…”