State fires Sharpe contract nurse charged with murder in unrelated incident 

The state Department of Health and Human Resources says it has fired a contract nurse for William R. Sharpe Jr., Hospital who was arrested and charged with murder in an incident unrelated to the Weston psychiatric facility. 

Tamra Jo Garvin, 51, was booked into Central Regional Jail in Braxton County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She remained there Wednesday with no bail set. 

According to records from Clay County Circuit Court, Garvin and Zachary Trace Garvin-Ward were each indicted on charges of murder, use or presentment of a firearm in the commission of a felony and conspiracy in the Jan. 28 shooting death of Cory Garvin-Ward. 

WCHS-TV reported that Zachary Trace-Garvin Ward shot his brother, Cory Garvin-Ward in Clay County during an argument over stolen property. He was reportedly arrested at the scene. Garvin-Ward was taken to an area hospital, where he died. 

In a statement, Sherri Young, interim DHHR cabinet secretary, said when the department’s leadership learned of Garvin’s arrest, they informed her employer her assignment at Sharpe Hospital would be terminated effective Wednesday. 

Before she was hired, Young said, Garvin underwent a fingerprint-based federal and state background check through WV CARES, which is mandated for all direct access employees, independent contractors, and volunteers of providers and facilities. The screening did not reveal cause for concern, she said.