Arrest made in connection with Fayette Co. mother found dead in trunk outside Walmart in Morgantown

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A man was arrested in connection with a Fayette County mother found dead in the trunk of her car outside a Walmart store in Morgantown.

According to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, Gary Donald Smith III, 60, was arrested on charges of First Degree Murder. Officials said Smith is the paternal grandfather of Alexa Randolph’s child.

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Smith was arraigned and given no bond. He was transported to the North Central Regional Jail where he will await a preliminary hearing.

Investigators said Randolph’s vehicle was dropped off in the store parking lot around 8:52 p.m. on Jan. 28 and that Smith then left on foot. He made several comments that police say connect him to Randolph’s death.

The store parking lot was about 10 minutes away from where Randolph lived.

According to police paperwork, detectives found what was believed to be a crime scene in Smith’s garage in Morgantown, but they did not elaborate on what exactly that means.

Randolph was last seen at the home where Smith and his son live, which is also where her son had been staying.

Randolph was originally from Fayette County and graduated from Albert Gallatin High School.

Body of missing woman found in car’s trunk in Morgantown Walmart parking lot

Cox Media Group