Three charged in murder & arson attempt

Three Maryland men are being charged with attempting to kill one of the men's grandparents and burn down their trailer in western Morgan County, according to West Virginia State Police.

Named in criminal complaints filed in Magistrate Court on Monday afternoon were Richard Ihler, 22, and Christopher Lesser, 22, both of Silver Spring; and Bryan Woods, 21, of Rockville.

They are expected to turn themselves in this week.

Ihler is the grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Conley and lives with them in Silver Spring. The Conleys also own a trailer on Nebo Road, west of Great Cacapon, which they were visiting when the alleged crime took place two weeks ago.

State Police charge that Ihler solicited two friends – Lesser and Woods – to burn down the trailer and kill his grandparents.

The three men are accused of pouring gasoline around the Conleys' trailer at about 9 p.m. on Thursday evening, March 8.

Police said the Conleys escaped from the trailer without injury. The trailer did not burn well and the fire went out, causing little damage.

Two of the young men fled the scene, leaving behind the third,

who was later questioned by police and told of the plot, according to authorities.

Ihler, Lesser and Woods have each been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of first degree arson.

State Trooper McDonald is the chief investigator in the case and can be reached at 258-0000.