Lighter leash fight leaves one woman dead in Mercer County

MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Bluefield woman is charged with second-degree murder after a physical altercation over a lighter leash left a woman dead.

On April 29, 2024, Mercer County Deputies responded to a physical altercation on Old Bramwell Road in Bluefield, WV. The suspect, Crystal Copley, 36, told deputies that she and the victim, Debra Olivo, had been in altercations before over the last six months. Copley said Debra accused her of stealing a lighter leash from her, which started a verbal altercation over the phone.

Copley said she told Debra she was coming to the home where she was located. Once at home, Copley pushed Drbra. She said it was relatively easy to create distance between them. Witnesses say she was pushed up against a brick wall but that Copley didn’t strike her.

Copley is charged with second-degree murder. She is currently held in Southern Regional Jail under a 100,000 cash-only bond.