Christopher Michael Matheny, 50, was killed in the early morning hours of January 1, 2025, while visiting family in Durbin, West Virginia. Matheny lived in Herculaneum, Missouri, and had returned to West Virginia with his two young daughters to visit his parents, Jerry and Judy Matheny. He worked as a contracting officer for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis and was married to Jennifer Lynn Schroer; he was the father of two daughters and a stepson.

What began as a New Year’s family visit ended violently at a residence on Oak Drive when gunfire was directed toward the home. Investigators say a utility vehicle described locally as an old ambulance pulled into the driveway, followed by a white pickup. Surveillance evidence described in a criminal complaint captured gunfire, a man later identified as Jason Franklin Brickles calling after the driver of the utility vehicle, and Brickles approaching the porch with a handgun. Matheny was sitting on a couch directly behind the front door when a round penetrated the residence and fatally struck him in the lower abdomen. Six people, including children, were in the home; no other injuries were reported.

A suspect was located and arrested after leaving the scene. What is still needed by readers is any information about the events on Oak Drive that night or about the vehicles and people seen arriving; anyone with relevant information is asked to come forward.