On Monday, February 17, 2025, at approximately noon, Welch Detachment Troopers responded to the area of Summer Street in Welch for a deceased male, identified as Donald Eugene Griffin (a 69-year-old white male from Welch), on the bank of the Tug River, according to a press release from the West Virginia State Police.

Senior Trooper K. M. Saddler conducted a death investigation and identified the deceased as an occupant of a silver Chevrolet Silverado that had reportedly been driving in high water and washed into the Tug River on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The truck was located a short time later in the water near Coney Island in Welch.

At approximately 5 p.m., the truck was partially extricated from the water and inside was confirmed to be the body of an adult female. The female’s identity has been confirmed as Deborah Griffin (a 69-year-old white female from Welch). According to witnesses, another occupant of the truck, a two-year-old male, was seen being taken from the truck by Donald Griffin.

Two female juveniles were able to escape from the truck after being swept downriver. Trees struck the truck, and the back glass was damaged, allowing the female juveniles to escape. The juvenile females were rescued from the water by the fire department and EMS.

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at approximately 10:30 am, the two-year-old male was located deceased in the river in the area of Hunting Shirt Bottom in Davy, W.Va., which is an estimated 10 miles from the location of the truck.

Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were the legal guardians of the children.