CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Robert Daniels, 55, who is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of his wife, was arrested by law enforcement in Mingo County, thwarting what authorities described as his plan “to kill deputies.”

West Virginia State Police and the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department picked up Daniels on Wednesday on outstanding felony warrants for “threats of terroristic acts and retaliation against a public official,” according to a statement from the Huntington Police Department.

Sheriff Joe Smith of Mingo County took to social media to outline the arrest. It all began Sept. 20 when Huntington detectives notified him that Daniels, a suspect in a shooting, had fled to the Mingo/Pike County area—and brought a deadly vendetta with him.

“The person of interest … made threats that he was going to track a certain deputy down and kill him,” the sheriff stated. “We immediately relocated the deputy and his family to make sure they were safe and contacted West Virginia State Police and Kentucky State Police to make them aware of the situation and threats. For the past several days, different agencies have attempted to locate Robert Daniels.”

The hunt ended when they found him—crouched near the railroad tracks, hidden under a blanket, with two loaded weapons in hand: a handgun and a high-powered rifle.

Despite the threat he posed, the arrest went down without a hitch.

“A guy lying in wait, whose sole purpose was to come to Mingo County to kill deputies, was arrested without incident,” Smith added.

Daniels’ wife, Michelle Daniels, 47, died in a Huntington hospital two days after being discovered at their home with severe injuries. Robert Daniels is facing a murder charge in her death as of Thursday.