Murder in the Heartland is examining the death of teenager Riley Crossman from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, who was murdered by her mother’s boyfriend, Andy McCauley.
The 15-year-old Crossman was reported missing on May 8, 2019, after she failed to appear in school. The community and local law enforcement all banded together to hunt for the missing girl.
Sadly, Crossman’s decomposing remains were discovered on a rural mountain road in Berkeley County. She had been thrown over an embankment.
An autopsy struggled to find an exact cause of death, but the circumstances clearly indicated it was a homicide.
The cops began to focus their investigation on Andy McCauley, the partner of Crossman’s mother, Chantel Oakley.
The cops learned that on the night of May 7, Crossman had sent a text to her boyfriend stating that McCauley was in her room and she was scared. Unfortunately, her boyfriend had been asleep and hadn’t seen the text until the following morning.
Police believe Andy McCauley killed Riley Crossman with a pillow
The investigators concluded that McCauley had gone into the girl’s room and smothered her with a pillow. Her DNA and saliva were found on a pillow at the scene.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelAt the time of the murder, McCauley had been working on a project involving a distinctive type of roofing screw. These screws were found at the site where Crossman’s remains had been dumped and in the murderer’s truck.
The cops also uncovered surveillance footage that showed McCauley’s truck in the area where the body was found.
McCauley was arrested and charged with murder on May 16.
Andy McCauley convicted of Riley Crossman murder
The killer was put on trial in September 2021 and was eventually found guilty of first-degree murder. He was also convicted of the death of a child by a custodian by child abuse and concealment of a body.
Circuit Judge Debra McLaughlin and state prosecutor Dan James were keen to stress that all evidence showed McCauley had acted alone in the murder and Chantel Oakley had absolutely nothing to do with her daughter’s death.
McCauley was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He appeared emotionless as the sentence was announced and refused to make a statement.
Morgan County’s Sheriff K.C. Boehrer expressed disappointment that West Virginia did not have the death penalty, stating, “Justice was served as far as we possibly can do it in our legal system. I wish we had the death penalty. This person deserves to die for the heinous acts that he did.”
Prosecutor James and Chantel Oakley both echoed the Sheriff’s sentiments by suggesting they would have liked to see McCauley condemned to death.
Murder in the Heartland airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery.
Why wasnt the female DNA found under her fingernails tested, as there was no male DNA found. why was the house torn down before Andy was convicted. Was this a cover up to protect the daughter of a magistrate, and to get a known trouble maker out of the town.