Man accused of stabbing ex-wife and her 2 children to death, sheriff’s office says

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ/Gray News) - A West Virginia man accused of killing his ex-wife and her two children is in jail after he was arraigned at a hospital Tuesday night.

Joshua Deel, 39, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder following a stabbing that killed three people at a Lesage residence early Tuesday, according to the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.

The three people killed were identified as Joshua Deel’s ex-wife, 39-year-old Shawn Deel, her 18-year-old daughter Abigale Sloan and her 16-year-old son Dekota Sloan.

Investigators said Shawn Deel and her two children were still living with Joshua Deel at the time of the deadly incident.

Deputies first responded to the 200 block of Hickory Grove Road just before 5 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a stabbing.

Dispatchers said Joshua Deel was the individual who initially called 911, claiming that he and his family had been attacked and stabbed, the criminal complaint states.

Deputies arrived and found three people dead from apparent stab wounds “with blood everywhere throughout the residence.”

A fourth person, identified as Joshua Deel, was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center by Cabell County EMS, accompanied by law enforcement, for superficial wounds.

Joshua Deel told investigators an “unknown masked subject” left the scene of the stabbing through the front door of the residence, but his statements were inconsistent, according to the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint states that detectives later learned an argument involving Joshua Deel and one of the victims had occurred Monday night in the residence.

Detectives said Joshua Deel later confessed to placing his phone under one of the victims’ bedroom doors and trying to take photos of them, according to the criminal complaint.

One of the victims left the bedroom and confronted Joshua Deel, who said, “It’s not going to happen again,” the criminal complaint states.

Additionally, witnesses told detectives they were outside getting ready for work at around 5 a.m. Tuesday when they heard Joshua Deel yelling expletives at a woman, the criminal complaint states.

The witnesses told detectives the sounds coming from the woman “slowly decreased, which ultimately became quiet,” the criminal complaint states.

Detectives said Joshua Deel allegedly stabbed and killed all three victims following the argument.

After investigators from the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office and West Virginia State Police worked throughout the day and consulted with Cabell County Prosecutor Jason Spears, authorities said Joshua Deel was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Sheriff Doug Adams said the incident was isolated to the residence and there was no threat to the public.

Joshua Deel is set to appear in court on July 30.