MURDER CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST MATH TEACHER - Parkersburg Burned Bodies Case

(03/17/2005)
In a startling move, murder charges have been dropped against a WVU math teacher in the deaths of a Parkersburg couple whose remains were found in a burned apartment.

Wood County Magistrate Donna Jackson signed a motion last night to dismiss first-degree murder charges against Drew Spencer, a neighbor of the victims.

The dismissal motion said there was insufficient evidence due to inconsistent testimony of a key witness, Spencer's roommate. Parkersburg Police Chief Bob Newell said there were too many inconsistencies.

Parkersburg Police charged Spencer last week in the deaths of John Nestor, III and his girlfriend, Tracy Thompson.

Preliminary reports from the state medical examiner's office indicate that Nestor and Thompson died of carbon monoxide inhalation as a result of the February fire.

Spencer will be released from jail.

There is some movement on the ID of a beheaded suspect whose burned body was found near Mineral Wells on the same date.