Roger Stroud, 40, of Kermit, was arrested last week for the murder of his estrange wife, Vadie Michelle Stroud. At the time of his arrest, court records say Stroud confessed to shooting his wife several times and placing her body in a refrigerator, which he dumped at a remote coal mine.
However, Stroud later pleaded not guilty to Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury. He was denied bond.
Magistrate Eugene Crum granted Stroud a continuance until Thursday.
Steven Johnston Knopp, an attorney working with the office of Teresa McCune, Mingo’s Chief Public Defender, told the Daily News he felt the extra time was needed, in part due to the nature of the case.
“These are very serious charges,” Knopp said. “There is a lot of information, and we want to be ensure an orderly exchange of that information with [Prosecuting Attorney] Michael Sparks’ office.”
Stroud’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday.




