Opening Arguments Commence in High Profile Wood County Trial for the 2025 Shooting Death of Williamstown Resident

Belmont woman Barbara Cupp faces trial for the 2025 killing of Matthew Allen Bills as opening arguments commence in Wood County Circuit Court.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 7:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from News and Sentinel

Legal Proceedings Begin for Belmont Woman in Fatal Domestic Shooting

The Wood County judicial system has transitioned into the trial phase for a criminal case that has remained under close public scrutiny for over a year. Jury selection concluded on Monday in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Robert Waters, clearing the path for opening arguments to begin this morning. At the center of the litigation is 33 year old Barbara Cupp, a Belmont resident accused of the lethal shooting of Matthew Allen Bills. The proceedings marks a critical juncture for the local community, as prosecutors move to establish a timeline and motive for a domestic incident that left one man dead and a suspect seriously injured in the spring of 2025.

Crime Scene Discovery Revealed Victim and Suspect With Gunshot Wounds

The roots of the current trial trace back to a late night emergency dispatch on March 18, 2025, involving a residence located at 158 Maple Drive in Williamstown. Upon arriving at the scene, Wood County Sheriff’s deputies discovered the body of 37 year old Matthew Allen Bills, who had succumbed to apparent gunshot injuries within his own home. In a complex turn for investigators, Cupp was also discovered inside the dwelling in an unresponsive state, suffering from a gunshot wound to her shoulder. While Bills was pronounced dead at the scene, Cupp was stabilized and transported to the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center for emergency treatment, setting the stage for a lengthy investigation into the discharge of the weapon.

Grand Jury Issues Direct Indictment Citing Prohibited Firearm Possession

The path to trial bypassed traditional preliminary hearings through the utilization of a direct indictment issued by a grand jury last September. This legal maneuver allowed the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office to bring formal charges without the filing of a standard criminal complaint, a detail confirmed by the Circuit Clerk’s office. The indictment officially charged Cupp with murder and specifically highlighted her status as a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. This secondary charge is rooted in a prior legal history, specifically a domestic battery conviction from December 2013 in Pleasants County, which legally barred her from the ownership or use of lethal weaponry.