The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Michael Shawn Ayers following a joint investigation that led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle, jewelry, gift cards, and a chainsaw, all of which have since been returned to their owners.
Sheriff Frank Priddy released details of the case, which began on August 24, 2026, when Deputy Villers was dispatched to a residence in the Piney View area to investigate a reported stolen vehicle.
During the early stages of the investigation, deputies developed information pointing to Ayers as a possible suspect. Deputy Villers followed up on several investigative leads and eventually located the stolen vehicle in the Beckley area.
Investigation Unfolds Over Two Days
The case took another turn the following day when Deputy Quesenberry came into contact with Ayers while responding to an unrelated burglary call.
During that encounter, Ayers was found in possession of jewelry and gift cards that investigators believed were tied to other thefts in the area. Deputy Quesenberry continued digging into the case, gathering additional information about the stolen property and ultimately recovering the items.
Deputy Villers later interviewed Ayers, who confessed to stealing the vehicle. Investigators also connected the recovered jewelry to a separate burglary that Cpl. Schack had been investigating, tying together what had initially appeared to be unrelated cases.
Charges and Recovered Property
As a result of the investigation, Ayers was arrested and now faces the following charges:
Two counts of Burglary, one count of Grand Larceny One count of Petit Larceny
In addition to the stolen vehicle, deputies recovered jewelry, gift cards, and a chainsaw, all of which were returned to their rightful owners.
The Sheriff’s Office credited the successful outcome to the combined efforts of Deputy Villers, Deputy Quesenberry, and Cpl. Schack, praising their teamwork and persistence throughout the case. Officials also thanked Trooper Gilkerson of the West Virginia State Police for his assistance in the investigation.
In the announcement, the Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the case highlights how connecting seemingly separate incidents can lead to solving multiple crimes at once. Officials noted that the coordinated work between deputies and outside agencies played a key role in identifying the suspect and getting stolen property back to residents.
As with all pending criminal cases, Ayers is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. No additional details on a court date or bond status were released at this time.
The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office said it will continue to provide updates on the case as it moves through the legal system.
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