In Around West Virginia: a man who saved 60,000 Jews has ties to West Virginia, a mother remembers her deceased infant on Mother's Day, Marshall University addresses concerns over the handling of a sexual assault case, and more.
n The great-uncle of a Beckley woman's late husband saved 60,000 Jews during the Holocaust, according to The Register-Herald. Dr. Felix Kersten helped heal the stomach pains of a high-ranking Nazi official, Heinrich Himmler. In exchange, Kersten was able to save the lives of Jews. The Beckley woman, Kathy McGaha, said the family has never tried to find any of the survivors.
n Mother's Day was more difficult for Erica Jones, according to The Register-Herald. Her daughter, Harmony, was born premature and died because her trachea was not developed. Jones started a support group in Lewisburg for mothers of deceased infants called N.O.A.H., Now Our Angel's In Heaven.
She and her husband decided together to hold a funeral when Harmony died. "It was important to me that she had a burial because she did exist," she said. "A lot of people think they didn't exist if they're premature. For some people, it's easier to put it away, but it's not always easier to the parent. It was important to me that her life be honored."
n A Berkeley County man is charged with death of a child by a parent or guardian, according to The Journal. Michael Patrick McGinley, 29, of Hedgesville, was initially charged with gross child neglect with bodily injury, then the child succumbed to his injuries and died over the weekend. McGinley was allegedly drunk when he gave the child a scalding hot bath, burning 95 percent of his body.
n Students at Marshall University have expressed concern on social media that the school reinstated a student, Joseph Hardin, accused of sexual assault, with the criminal case still pending. The Herald-Dispatch reports University President Jerome Gilbert released a statement noting the school does not wait until the criminal case is complete before holding a student conduct hearing.
n Charges have been dismissed against all West Virginia Wesleyan students accused of beating up an alumnus in December, The Exponent-Telegram reports. The prosecutor gave no reason for the dismissals in the motion requesting them. But the attorney for the alleged victim previously had said the case didn't add up, because none of the victim's blood was found on the hammer allegedly used in the beating.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.