On Thursday, June 13, 2024 at approximately 5:00 p.m., Corporal D.C. Moore received information a complainant, that a woman had texted her advising that she was being held against her will, by a person named Josh, and that she was sick and needed help.
The address given for the location was 508 South Calhoun Highway, Mount Zion, WV. Upon ariving at the location the Cpl. Moore and Sheriff Knight found the accused, Joshawa Whipkey at the residence. Upon entering the residence the officers located tje victim, who advised that she was sick and needed help. She said that she believed she had ben drugged in her drink, and that the accused was holding her there against her will. She also advised that he watched her 24/7 and wouldn’t let her leave his sight, he was watching when she went to sleep and when she woke, and when she went to the bathroom, further stating that she couldn’t leave the residence without being with Josh.
The victim stated that she feared harm if she tried to leave the residence, and did not know what Josh would do. She had no other place to go, and needed to go to the hospital for treatment for cancer.
While at the residence, a total of seven (7) long guns were on a shelf within 15 feet of where Josh had stayed, unsecured. Josh is a prohibited person, with a felony conviction of domestic battery 3rd offense, disposition date
of 3/18/2021.
Joshawa Lynn Whipkey, age 45, was taken into custody and was charged with unlawful restraint and unlawful possession of a gun. Following arraingnment his bond was set at $3,000. He awaits trial in the WV Central Regional Jail.
