James Belknap, charged in quadruple W.Va. murders, allegedly motivated by drugs

(CBS/AP) SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A man charged Monday with killing four people - including two young children - whose bodies were found in a wooded part of central West Virginia was allegedly motivated by a fight over drug money, authorities said.

James Belknap was arrested Monday and faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Steven Hendrix, his girlfriend Amber Martin, and two children, said West Virginia State Police Sgt. Michael Baylous.

According to the criminal complaint, police received information from several people about how Belknap and Hendrix were in a fight over drugs, reports CBS affiliate WOWK.

The investigation reportedly found that Belknap owed Hendrix money for drugs, the complaint states, and that Hendrix likely went to Belknap's property in an attempt to collect the money.

Belknap was arrested at a roadblock not far from a crime scene that Baylous described as "gruesome." He declined to elaborate but added that investigating officers said it was one of the worst crime scenes they had ever seen, in part, because two of the victims were children.

"These guys are going to have a hard time dealing with all this," Baylous said.

Baylous confirmed that the bodies found Saturday were those of a man, his girlfriend and two children, ages 6 and 4, who have been missing since May 19.

Police said the bodies were found about a mile from where the Hendrix's missing 2003 Chevy Venture van was discovered Friday night.

Belknap and the victims were "acquaintances," Baylous said, but he was unable to elaborate.

Another man who was driving the car that was stopped at the roadblock was charged with obstructing an officer and accessory after the fact to murder, Baylous said. That man, Mark Haynes, 53, and Belknap are both from the Leivasy area in Nicholas County, but Baylous was unsure how they knew each other.