Published: October 28, 2008 03:42 pm      

Romney businessman’s death ruled suspicious

ROMNEY, W.Va. — The death of a well-known Romney businessman is being considered “suspicious,” according to Hampshire County Sheriff Nathan Sions.

Willard Malcolm, 70, owner of the Romney Auction Sales Inc., died Monday at the Winchester (Va.) Medical Center, where he was taken by ambulance Sunday evening.

The sheriff’s office was notified by the hospital that Malcolm’s injuries “appeared to be suspicious in nature and that law enforcement may want to conduct an investigation,” said Sions in a news release.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, the Hampshire County 911 Center received a call “of a male victim needing an ambulance” at a Potomac Avenue residence in Romney. The emergency center said the call was for “shortness of breath.”

Romney Rescue Squad took the male victim — later identified as Malcolm — to Hampshire Memorial Hospital prior to him being transferred to the Winchester Medical Center.

Chief Deputy John Alkire, Capt. John Eckerson and Senior Deputies Michelle Sabin and Wesley Frame responded to the Potomac Avenue residence of Patty White, where Malcolm is believed to have received his injuries, police said.

The scene was processed for evidence and deputies began speaking with witnesses and other “persons of interest.”

Autopsy results are being awaited from the Virginia State Medical Examiner’s Office as part of the continuing investigation that includes the assistance of Deputies Chris Carroll and Jed Metzler.

Sions declined to elaborate on the investigation and to specify why Malcolm was at the White residence when he became injured.

Sions also declined comment concerning any search warrants that may have been conducted as part of the investigation.

“We’re being very thorough. We’re conducting interviews and I believe we’re making positive progress,” said Sions on Tuesday afternoon.