Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Virginia woman was found dead at the scene of what first appeared to be a single vehicle crash on KY 160 in the Lynch area of Harlan County on Sunday, April, 20.

Sandra Moore, 44, of Virginia, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Harlan County Coroner’s Office.

According to a press release, Kentucky State Police Post 10, Harlan, received a report of a vehicle on fire on KY 160 near the Lynch community. When KSP Troopers and Detectives arrived on the scene, a Toyota vehicle was found on fire and off the roadway and down the mountainside. Moore was inside the vehicle.

Initial investigation determined Moore had been involved in an altercation with her nephew, David Stoneburner, 29, of Appalachia, VA, earlier that morning at their Virginia residence. Evidence indicates the dispute led to Moore’s death. Following the altercation, Stoneburner placed Moore’s remains in her vehicle and drove to Kentucky. Once at the scene, Stoneburner placed Moore’s body in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, set the vehicle on fire, and put the vehicle in motion causing it to travel over the embankment.

Stoneburner was taken into custody and charged with first-degree abuse of a corpse and arson. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $250,000 full cash bond.

Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues. Moore’s death is under active investigation by Virginia authorities. KSP Det. Jake Middleton is leading the investigation in Kentucky.

In other police activity:

•   Justin Collett, 35, of Hulen, was arrested by the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) on April, 20. He was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to or improper signal, failure to produce insurance card, and driving on a DUI suspended license. Collett was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center;
•   Phillip Barnett, 54, of Big Stone Gap, VA, was arrested by the Harlan City Police Department on April, 20. He was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and first-degree promoting contraband. Barnett was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center;
•   Tommie Chaffin, 46, of Bledsoe, was arrested by HCSO on April, 18. She was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Chaffin was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center;
•   James Starrett, 50, of Evarts, was arrested by the HCSO on April, 16. He was charged with first-degree trafficking a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a legend drug, prescription controlled substance not in proper container, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Starrett was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center;

•   James Acelinger, 35, of Cumberland, was arrested by the Cumberland City Police Department on April, 15. He was charged with tampering with physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, and third-degree criminal trespassing. Acelinger was lodged in the Harlan county Detention Center.