Life sentence without mercy in Logan County Circuit Court murder case
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Life sentence without mercy in Logan County Circuit Court murder case
A.M. Stone | WVOW News
LOGAN A man will spend the rest of his life in prison following his sentencing in Logan County Circuit Court for a 2024 murder.
Earlier this year, 25-year-old Daris Stanton, of Madison, WVa. pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the shooting death of 42-year-old Walter Elmore II back on October 13, 2024. Stanton was indicted in 2025 by a grand jury for the murder as well as robbery in the first degree, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts each wanton endangerment with a firearm and kidnapping. A plea agreement stated the prosecution would recommend mercy if Stanton pleaded guilty to murder.
On Wednesday in a Logan County court room, Prosecutor David Wandling said the case revolved around two eye-witnesses. One witness’ whereabouts are currently unknown and the other lives in a different state. That witness, according to Wandling, was still prepared to testify at trial. Wandling asserted the recommendation for mercy at sentencing was nothing more.
“This is just a recommendation of mercy,” Wandling told the court. “There was nothing in the negotiation or on the record at the plea hearing which would indicate this was a binding plea.”
The witnesses to the shooting, identified in court as Stephanie Smith and Johnathan Dilday, along with Stanton, were locked into a drug fueled weekend at a residence on Enchanted Circle in the Ethel area. During the plea hearing last January, the prosecutor described a scenario that started off as a business interaction once the trio ran out of drugs.
Evidence prosecutors intended to present at trial, included statements from Dilday and Smith alleging that Stanton had expressed earlier the day of the murder that he needed to rob someone.
Investigation suggested Ms. Smith came up with the idea of contacting Walt Elmore, who agreed to bring crack cocaine to the residence. Elmore arrived later that afternoon and told those present that he needed to cook the crack cocaine.
According to the investigation, Elmore was in the kitchen preparing the crack cocaine when Stanton confronted him with a sawed-off shotgun. The confrontation quickly escalated into an argument. As Elmore tried to leave the residence, Stanton allegedly blocked the door, preventing his escape. Elmore made another attempt to get out, and at that point, according to Smith's statement, Stanton fired a single shotgun blast into Elmore's abdomen.
Elmore, after sustaining the gunshot, fled the scene in a vehicle and subsequently crashed the car and was discovered by a passing motorist. He later died at Logan Regional Medical Center.
Dilday and Smith also told West Virginia State Police, once Elmore left, Stanton turned the shotgun on them, forced them to take a car and leave the scene at gun point. They traveled into Boone County on Route 17.
“At some point,” Wandling said during previous hearings, “for reasons which are still unknown, Mr. Stanton lets Mr. Dilday and Ms. Smith out of the vehicle along Route 17. According to both Mr. Dilday and Ms. Smith, they did not have cell service in the area where they were, and so they walked on foot from where they were released by Mr. Stanton back toward Enchanted Circle until they had cell phone service where they made a 911 call and reported what had happened.”
Ultimately, Stanton was picked up following a traffic stop on Pond Fork Road. He has been in jail ever since. Following the Wednesday sentencing, Stanton will remain in jail the rest of his natural life.
Three victim impact statements were delivered in the courtroom from Elmore’s family.
Elmore’s fiancé Gina told the court Stanton already received mercy.
“I believe he’s already getting mercy because he’s sitting there breathing. Walt will never be able to breathe again.”
Elmore’s son, Walter III, bewailed the fact that the relationship he finally got to have with his father was taken so violently. He said his father had flaws, but his father had a big heart and would have given the shirt off his back to anyone. He stressed how the tragedy impacted his family.
“We all just sit and wait on him to pull up. For him to show up one day… and that’s never going to happen again.”
Elmore’s mother Doris locked eyes with her son’s killer, spoke and never faltered in speaking her mind calmly and clearly.
“Walter was my son,” Mrs. Elmore began. “He was my first born. He was the one who made me a mother, and you took that from me.”
Elmore’s mother vented about the indignity she and her family suffered as the killer smirked and grinned during previous hearings. She said her faith as a Christian dictates forgiveness, but she said mercy is out of the question.
“I forgive you,” Mrs. Elmore declared, “but that don’t mean I want you back out on the street for the simple fact you have no respect, no regard for our family.”
Stanton, for his part of the sentencing, apologized for his actions that directly contributed to Elmore’s death. Stanton blamed the drugs and his addiction, though he said those are not excuses for his actions.
“With respect, I say I'm sorry,” Stanton told the court. “I regret it every day. I wish I could get it out of my head. I'm sure y'all wish the same. One day, hopefully, you'll be at ease with it and just try to find peace again, even though this will be hard. I'm sorry, I apologize for the pain, and I took a family member from y'all. Bad things happen to good people sometimes.”
His rambling words fell on deaf ears.
Judge Joshua Butcher delivered the court’s decision following impact statements. The judge said the only question for him to answer was the appropriateness of mercy for Stanton. Butcher said the case highlights the severe effect of drug abuse on communities and those that stand in the wake of those consequences. The judge went on to say that one’s problem with the disorder of addiction does not make them any less of a person, any less worthy of protection of the law, does not make the loss of their life to their family worth any less or make the actions of who may murder them less culpable.
“There’s surely not much of a reason to see this case from the defendant’s perspective when he states in his comments to the court that bad things happen to good people sometimes. The casualness of this comment does not begin to approach the gravity of the consequences to this family,” Judge Butcher concluded.
Butcher imposed a sentence of life without mercy.
PHOTO | A.M. Stone, WVRJA