Published: November 01, 2008 11:51 pm      

Romney men face murder charges

Pair arrested in connection with death of Hampshire businessman

ROMNEY, W.Va. — Two Romney men were arrested by the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office Friday in connection with the death of a well-known Romney businessman.

Kilton Lee Kitchen, 20, and John J. Ficik, 27, were each charged with first-degree murder in the death of Romney Auction Sales owner Willard Malcolm.

Kitchen and Ficik allegedly struck Malcolm, 70, in the head with a blunt object on Oct 26, causing head trauma that resulted in his death the following day at a Winchester, Va., hospital.

According to police reports, Kitchen and Ficik are suspected of attacking Malcolm when he went to the home of Patty Lopez at 593 Potomac Avenue to get a set of keys from Kitchen that reportedly belonged to Lopez and have him removed from the home at her request.

Police said Malcolm was later found unresponsive in the backyard of the Lopez home about 10:10 p.m. by an acquaintance who went to the residence to check on his well-being after Lopez attempted to contact him via cell phone.

Malcolm was initially taken to Hampshire Memorial Hospital by Romney Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Witness statements given to deputies indicate that both defendants had previously discussed ways to kill Malcolm.

Both men were arrested without incident at separate residences in Romney and are being held without bond at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail.

The case remains under investigation by Chief Deputy John Alkire and Capt. John Eckerson, who are awaiting a final autopsy report from the Virginia State Medical Examiner’s Office.