The preliminary hearing for a Weston man who police believe was an eyewitness to the slaying of 29-year-old Joshua Oberg was delayed again Thursday to allow for his attorney to further investigate the case.
Robert Eugene Siron III, 30, is being held without bond at the North Central Regional Jail on a first-degree murder charge. He had originally been scheduled to appear in Upshur County Magistrate Court on July 30, but that hearing was continued until Thursday as he did not waive the required 10-day period during which these hearings must be conducted. Siron waived the 10-day period on Thursday.
No new date has been set for the hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant grand jury consideration of the case.
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Siron
West Virginia State Police investigators believe Siron witnessed Oberg's murder, allegedly at the hands of Jesse Heater, 28, of Buckhannon, at some point after Oberg went missing on Jan. 23.
Oberg's remains were discovered July 23 in a shallow grave along Bull Run Road in Upshur County after police were led there by information given to a confidential informant.
Investigators are alleging that Heater was paid a "substantial" amount of cash by Rodolpho Correa Villagomez, 32, of Buckhannon, to kill Oberg. Investigators said Siron later received money from Heater.
Both Heater and Villagomez are being held without bond in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail. Heater is charged with first-degree murder, while Villagomez is charged with being an accessory before the fact to first-degree murder. Both charges carry a life sentence in prison.
The state police are continuing to look into a possible link between Oberg's murder and the July 18 disappearance of Luke Stout. Investigators have said they have received a number of phone calls from the public indicating that the two events are related.
Contact John Wickline by email at jwickline@theintermountain.com.
