All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Three-day dig connected to Luke Stout’s disappearance turns up no new evidence

A member of the FBI's evidence response team supervises the excavation Wednesday, Dec. 14.

ELLAMORE – The West Virginia State Police say they did not find any evidence in the case of the unsolved disappearance of an Upshur County man after spending three days unearthing a substantial dig site in Ellamore.

Cpl. S.W. Shahan with the Buckhannon detachment of the WVSP told My Buckhannon Monday that the Dec. 12-14 search for Luke David Stout did not yield any new evidence and has been terminated due to inclement weather. Shahan confirmed last week that state police were executing a search warrant of the property in connection with Stout’s 2012 disappearance.

Stout was last seen July 18, 2012, walking down the driveway of his mother’s residence on Hickory Flat Road carrying a bicycle frame. He was reported missing to the State Police three days later.

“We conducted a search over the course of three days — Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — but we never found any evidence,” Shahan said.

The search was organized due to new information police received related to Stout’s case.

“We had gained some new information, and that part of the search warrant is sealed, but that’s what led us to the site,” Shahan said. “We terminated the dig on Wednesday due to weather.”

Shahan said he could not comment on how or where officers obtained new details in the case.

According to previous reporting, Carl ‘Cracker’ Tenney is the owner of the property that was searched. When reached by phone last week, he told My Buckhannon the police were searching for the body of Luke Stout but said he didn’t know if Stout’s body was on the property or how he might have gotten there.

The three-day search brought state police, along with officers with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Evidence Response Team, to the dig site to supervise its excavation. The site is located about 8 miles southeast of Buckhannon, near the old 33 Mini-Mart, along the Middle Fork River near the Upshur-Randolph County line.

Shahan said he’s been investigating both new and old leads in the case since the summer of 2021 when he was transferred to the Buckhannon detachment. Anyone with information concerning the case is encouraged to call the WVSP Buckhannon detachment at 304-473-4200.

You can read more about Stout’s disappearance and the circumstances surrounding it here.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

City council to review water board’s recommendation for new water treatment plant

The Buckhannon Water Board has recommended moving forward with a new water treatment plant and related infrastructure upgrades, sending a proposal to the city council for approval.

Gail Lovel Zickefoose

Gail L. Zickefoose, a dedicated educator, community leader, and beloved family man, passed away peacefully at age 83 after a long illness, leaving a legacy of service, kindness, and devotion to others.

Buckhannon City Council Agenda: July 15, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council released the agenda for its upcoming July 15, 2025, meeting.

Upshur County Relay for Life aims to raise $35,000 for cancer research on July 19

The Upshur County Relay for Life will host its annual event July 19 at Jawbone Park, aiming to raise $35,000 for cancer research while celebrating survivors and bringing the community together through activities and remembrance ceremonies.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital team members engage in statewide healthcare leadership program

Two WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital employees were honored by the West Virginia Hospital Association Leadership Academy, with Paula Cutright graduating and Matthew Scott selected for future participation in the statewide healthcare leadership program.

Post 7 drops outings to Doddridge and Morgantown

Buckhannon Post 7 suffered consecutive road defeats, falling 10-2 to Doddridge County and 11-0 to Morgantown Post 2, dropping their season record to 2-15.

Summer basketball league begins week two

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League entered its second week with standout performances from top scorers including Cory Harper, Dalton Hamrick, Cordell Nicola, and Vinny Snuffer leading their teams across multiple games.

Buckhannon City Council Special Meeting Agenda: July 15, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council has released the agenda for its special meeting scheduled for July 15, 2025.

BCT to light up the stage with Mamma Mia starting this weekend

Buckhannon Community Theatre will present the musical Mamma Mia! at the Colonial Arts Center starting July 12, featuring ABBA hits, lively performances, and a cast assembled from across the region.