Beaver Man Charged with Murder After 35-Year-Old Woman Found Shot Along Route 979

BEAVER, KY — Kentucky State Police have charged a Floyd County man with murder after a woman was found shot to death Friday along Kentucky Route 979 in the Beaver community. The victim, 35-year-old Sarah Slone, was pronounced dead at the scene after troopers discovered she had suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

Victim Found Dead Along Route 979

KSP Pikeville Post received a report of an unresponsive woman on Friday and responded to the location on Route 979. When investigators arrived, they found Slone deceased and immediately launched a criminal investigation into the shooting.

Her body was later transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Suspect Initially Arrested for Evidence Tampering

Troopers also found 35-year-old Joshua Gayheart, of Beaver, at the scene. According to investigators, Gayheart admitted to tampering with evidence connected to Slone’s death and was taken into custody on that charge.

Authorities did not release what specific evidence he altered.

Murder Charge Filed on Monday

After continued investigation through the weekend, Kentucky State Police announced Monday that Gayheart had been formally charged with murder in Slone’s death. No additional details — including a potential motive or the events leading up to the shooting — have been released at this time.

KSP says the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.

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