Accused murderer Hubert Lusk, Jr.

Friday, April 27, 2001

Accused murderer Hubert Lusk, Jr., 44 of Harrisville, W.Va., will stay in the Lawrence County Jail over the weekend awaiting an extradition hearing slated for Monday.

Lusk appeared in the county’s municipal court Thursday. Judge Donald Capper appointed Ironton attorney Philip J. Heald to explain the extradition process to Lusk.

As of Thursday afternoon, Heald said he had not spoken to Lusk and did not know his client’s intentions. Heald explained the extradition hearing isn’t used to determine innocence or guilt, but to determine if Lusk is the man wanted by West Virginia authorities.

Lusk is wanted in Ritchie County, W.Va. for a double homicide that occurred Sunday. Lusk allegedly killed both his wife, 39-year-old Rhonda Lee Lusk, and neighbor, 67-year-old Francis Dale McDonald. Ritchie County, W.Va., sheriff’s deputies found the bodies Sunday in the garage of McDonald’s Harrisville home.

Lusk was arrested early Wednesday morning in the village of Miller in Rome Township. Lusk was reportedly using a payphone outside of DJ’s Mini Mart in the village.

Police were tipped off to Lusk’s whereabouts by someone who recognized him from media reports.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.