Human Remains Found In Search For Missing 16YO Shayln Harvey, Step-Father Arrested

[Sugar Cookie]

Female human remains were discovered during a near multi-week search for a missing teenage girl. A member of her family was taken into custody.

According to The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, 16-year-old Shayln Shantel Harvey went missing in Big Chimney, West Virginia on May 2, 2026.

According to WBOY, Chief Sean Snuffer confirmed that James Truman was taken into custody on charges connected to Shayln, but stated that he could not elaborate amid an ongoing investigation, adding that Truman's arrest did not lead to the discovery of the remains.

Citing information from West Virginia Jails and Corrections, WBOY reported that Truman was arrested on May 8, 2026, and is facing a charge of "sexual abuse by parent, guardian, custodian, or other person in a position of trust to a child."

Human remains found in near multi-week search for missing teen, step-father arrested

Authorities declined to comment on the investigation into Truman.

local12.com

On Monday, the sheriff’s office confirmed that an autopsy conducted Monday morning positively identified the remains as belonging to Shayln.

They say they are not releasing her cause of death yet as they are still waiting for the completed findings from the West Virginia State Medical Examiner. However, the KCSO said they are treating the active investigation as a homicide.

Snuffer said Friday they can release no further information on the discovery until the Medical Examiner’s office positively identifies the remains. Snuffer added that they will release further details as it becomes appropriate to do so.

At the scene on Friday, Snuffer confirmed that Shayln’s stepfather, James Truman, was arrested on charges tied to Shayln, but said he could not elaborate further as the investigation is still ongoing. He says that the arrest did not lead to Friday’s investigation.

https://www.wboy.com/news/missing-persons/update-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-kanawha-county-teenager/