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Deputies responded around 8 p.m. Jan. 18, 2023, to 49 Distribution Drive in Malden for a call about an unattended death, and identified the dead man as Belcher, 63.

An autopsy performed on Belcher’s body led law enforcement to believe a homicide had been committed.

Grandson’s uneasiness

Brandon Justice, Belcher’s grandson, said he was initially told by deputies that the death was ruled as a medical issue by the state Medical Examiner’s Office. When he asked questions about the scene, he was told there would be no investigation.

“It didn’t look right,� Justice said. “I kept telling them that, ‘Something doesn’t seem right here.’�

Justice searched the house for Belcher’s missing phone and car keys. He’s not heard from investigators if those have ever been found.

The details and manner of Belcher’s death haven’t been publicly released.

Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango, a close friend of Belcher, also said foul play wasn’t suspected at first.

“It had been a day or so since anyone heard from him, and a friend of his went to the house and found his body,� Salango said. “Then later, they realized that there was foul play involved.�

Sheriff’s investigation

The sheriff’s office is still asking the community for information about the homicide. Anonymous tips may be submitted at , or contact the lead investigator, Detective C.A. Boner, at 304-357-0556.

Lt. Sean Snuffer, chief of detectives at the department, said detectives have actively worked the case over the past year.

“I know it’s discouraging to family, friends, and our community, that progress in this investigation is moving slowly,� Snuffer said in a statement. “But we have not and will not give up.�

The department has investigated numerous tips in the investigation. Additionally, a grand jury is hearing from witnesses to gather information.

Justice said he’s heard no updates or new leads. He reaches out to the department occasionally. Salango also said he hasn’t heard anything about the investigation in “many, many months.�

“There’s got to be people [who] know something,� Salango said. “Hopefully, they’ll come forward so that the family can get justice and closure.�

Eddie Belcher’s impact

Salango and Justice talked about the impact Belcher had on others around him.

“You wouldn’t meet anybody as nice as him,� Justice said.

Belcher had some health problems, and Justice would tell him to take care of himself. Once, soon after getting out of the hospital following one of those health issues, Belcher showed up at Justice’s farm with an oxygen tank to help him breathe. But Belcher was still ready to help Justice care for his potato plants.

“He didn’t need to worry about that,� Justice said. “He was always going above and beyond to help others, even if it did put his health in jeopardy a little bit.�

Salango described Belcher as a fighter.

“He was just adamant about helping people in Alum Creek,� he said.

Salango worked with Belcher to get a traffic light at the intersection of Brounland Road and Corridor G. Belcher noticed a pattern in the accident reports at the intersection and brought his concerns to Salango.

The light was installed in 2020, according to local news outlets.

Belcher was witty and fun to talk to, but he could put you in your place, Salango said. He loved gospel music and was a great cook who wrote a cookbook based on his mother’s recipes, called “Favorite Recipes from Mom to Me.�

“He was just always out there trying to make things better,� Salango said. “And he was loved by so many people.�

What’s next

In Belcher’s memory, his family is raising support for Alum Creek Elementary School to purchase musical playground equipment. Donations to the Eddie Belcher Memorial Fund may be made to the school, at 4540 Brounland Road, Charleston, WV 25309.

Justice said he is disappointed that the homicide hasn’t been solved yet.

“Being a year, the fact that someone’s getting away with this is a shame,� Justice said. “It’s an embarrassment to not only the county, but to the state. Something was not right from the beginning. Somebody messed up.�