West Virginia state police face damning claims: ‘The more we dug, the worse it stunk’

An anonymous letter detailed abuses including hidden cameras, theft, kidnapping, druggings and rape – and their cover-up

A slew of investigations have opened up against the West Virginia state police department after startling claims surfaced in recent months including alleged hidden cameras in women’s locker rooms, casino thefts, cover-ups, kidnappings, druggings and rape.

The investigations were initiated after an anonymous five-page letter was sent to multiple state lawmakers. The contents of the letter, which were then covered by local media outlets, consisted of multiple damning claims. Those claims triggered leadership changes across the department as well as sweeping investigations into the West Virginia state police.