Delbarton residents in Mingo County, West Virginia were stunned by the events that unfolded around 10 a.m. on Friday March 13, 2026 at a residence along Triton Lane just north of the small town. A neighbor requested a welfare check at the home prompting Mingo County Sheriff’s Office deputies to respond to the rural address in this quiet area of single family properties.
Upon arrival investigators discovered the body of a woman later identified as Christina Hunt covered by a blanket on the front porch of the residence. The scene was secured as deputies began processing evidence and coordinating with the West Virginia State Police and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation for support in the homicide case.
The investigation quickly focused on the husband Leroy Allen Hunt, 35, of Delbarton who was inside the home with the couple’s 2 year old child at the time. Deputies established a perimeter and engaged in a brief standoff involving the child who remained unharmed throughout the incident.
Hunt eventually surrendered without further violence allowing officers to take him into custody safely at the Triton Lane address. The child was removed from the residence and placed with family members while the scene remained active for several hours.
Hunt was transported to the Mingo County Magistrate Court where he was formally charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife Christina Hunt as well as child neglect creating substantial risk of injury or death. The criminal complaint alleges he shot Christina as she was entering the residence leading to her death on the porch.
The charges were filed based on evidence gathered at the Triton Lane home including the positioning of the body and statements from the initial response. Hunt remains in custody pending further court proceedings in Mingo County.
The discovery on the front porch of the Triton Lane residence marked a tragic end to what began as a routine welfare check requested by a concerned neighbor. No other individuals were injured during the incident that unfolded in the Delbarton area of Mingo County.
Deputies confirmed the 2-year-old child inside the home was not physically harmed but was removed for safety and placed in protective care. The coordinated response by local law enforcement ensured the scene was handled methodically with no additional threats identified in the surrounding neighborhood.
Community members in Delbarton and broader Mingo County have expressed shock over the events at the Triton Lane residence with calls for support resources for families affected by domestic violence. The Mingo County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized that the case appears isolated to the single address with no ongoing danger to the public. Investigators continue to review all evidence from the home including forensic details to build a complete timeline of the incident that occurred on Friday morning.
The Mingo County Sheriff’s Office continues its active investigation into the March 13 incident on Triton Lane with assistance from state agencies urging anyone with information to contact authorities directly. The case remains open as detectives work through forensic results and witness statements from the Delbarton area. Local leaders have offered condolences to the family involved while reminding residents of available support services in the wake of this tragedy in rural Mingo County West Virginia.
