West Virginia man dies in police custody after sister wakes from coma, says he attacked her
A West Virginia man died in police custody, just days after his sister awoke from a coma and then identified him as the person who carried out the brutal beating that left her incapacitated for years.
Daniel Palmer was arrested on July 15 and booked into the South Central Regional Jail. He was facing charges including attempted murder and malicious wounding for an attack on his sister Wanda Palmer prior to his death.
Wanda Palmer was discovered by lawn care workers on June 10, 2020, nearly dead in Cottageville, according to police.
The 51-year-old victim was found severely beaten in her trailer in Cottageville, W.Va., on June 10, 2020. She was likely attacked with a hatchet or machete and authorities at the time did not think she would survive her injuries. Wanda remained in a coma at a nursing home for two years before she suddenly regained consciousness on June 27.
On July 12, deputies drove to Genesis Healthcare in New Martinsville to discuss the case with her. Deputy Julia Bowen “entered Wanda’s room alone and began speaking with her,” the complaint said.
“Bowen asked opened ended questions of Wanda. Wanda indicated (that) she recalled living in her trailer near her mother’s place. She indicated that she recalled being hurt there. She made mention of her head.”
Wanda Palmer was discovered by lawn care workers on June 10, 2020, nearly dead in Cottageville, according to police.
When asked who hurt her, she identified Daniel as her assailant, despite severe brain damage and only being able to speak a few works at a time. He had long been a suspect in the case, but authorities could not uncover enough evidence to arrest him prior to Wanda’s emergence from her coma.
“Due to a previous violent history between Wanda Palmer and her brother Daniel Palmer, investigators initially considered Daniel a suspect in the assault,” according to a criminal complaint filed in Jackson County Magistrate Court.
Daniel had repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack. He was pronounced dead Thursday at a Charleston hospital, a day after he was taken there after an evaluation by jail medical staff, the state Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Division of Corrections, said in a news release.
His cause of death has not been released.
With News Wire Services
