For better or worse, I am a huge “what if?” type of person. I chronically overthink and, in doing so, have conjured up every possible scenario that could play out for myself and my loved ones. “What if I get majorly sick?” “What if my son goes missing?” Or one of my darkest thoughts:“What if my husband were to die?” That last one spawns a lot more anxious thoughts, like“Would we have to move?” or “Would I essentially die of a broken heart?” And of course, I’ve wondered about specific scenarios, such as if I could ever date again and what that would mean for my son.
One thing I know for certain is that dating again would mean moving in slow motion because when it comes to introducing a new person into your child’s life, you have to be as sure as you can that they are safe for a kid to be around. The sad reality is that even the most stringent vetting could still result in that person being secretly dangerous.
When a West Virginia teen first went missing on May 4, 2026, I imagine no one in her circle believed anyone was capable of hurting her.
Unfortunately, two weeks after Shalyn Shantel Harvey was reported missing, People revealed that on May 18, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office shared via a press release that it had found and identified human remains as those of Harvey in the home where she lived with her mother and stepfather, James Truman.
“Following the execution of a search warrant at a residence located on Offutt Drive in Big Chimney, human remains discovered on the property were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for examination and identification,” the release read. “An autopsy was performed this morning, and the remains have been positively identified as those of Shayln Shantel Harvey. At this time, we are not releasing the cause of death, pending the completed findings from the Medical Examiner.”
Authorities had visited the property after Truman reported her missing.
Chief Deputy Sean Snuffer reportedly confirmed to WBOY that authorities had arrested Truman on May 8 on charges connected to Harvey’s disappearance, including “sexual abuse by parent, guardian, custodian or other person in position of trust to a child.”
This comes after Truman spent days sharing “heartfelt” content online about the missing teen, including a reel with an image of her and a white pickup truck with the caption “Daddy’s Little Girl.”
He also wrote a post the day before he was arrested: “Shay this is your dad. If you see this, call me, call work, call someone, let me know [you’re] ok…I will come get you or give you some money to run with, and you [know] I will so get ahold of me.”
The medical examiner’s office is still investigating Harvey’s official cause of death.
Officials also announced they were opening up the case as a homicide investigation.
“Investigators will continue conducting interviews, processing evidence, and following up on all leads associated with this case,” an updated news release read. “The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Shalyn Harvey during this difficult time,” the release added. “Additional information will be released as it becomes available and appropriate to do so.”
Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding the case to contact their sheriff’s office immediately.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
