Hickman's friends shaken by tragic news

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HUNTINGTON — A benefit concert turned tragic Friday night.

Organizers were raising money for the reward fund to help find a 21-year-old Marshall University student when they found out that Huntington Police found a woman’s body Friday night.

Huntington Police Lt. Rocky Johnson announced at a news conference that police found a body that they believe is Leah Hickman of Leon, W.Va. The body was discovered about 5 p.m. at 403 8th Avenue. It was located at a crawlspace adjacent from a laundry room in the basement of the apartment. He added that the body has not been officially identified.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook said Hickman’s family was notified of their discovery.

Many hugs and tears were shared by all those who came out to Marley’s Doghouse for the benefit as they watched the televised press conference inside of the local bar.

Jason and Danielle McCoy said they both went to school with Hickman at Point Pleasant High School. The couple said they found out about the authorities latest investigation as they were entering the bar.

“My prayers go out to her family,” Jason McCoy said. “I’ve never really lost a loved one so I can’t imagine how her family is feeling right now.”

“I can’t believe how they found her — my heart just goes out to them.”

Hickman was reported missing by her family members since Friday, Dec. 14. A $10,000 reward was put up by Hickman’s co-workers at Dress Barn on Merritts Creek Road. Friday’s benefit was raising money to add to that fund.

Jason McCoy said when Hickman’s step-brother Nicholas Russell heard the news he immediately left the bar.

“I had talked to him in the morning to ask if he was OK and if he needed anything,” Jason said.

Danielle McCoy said she and Jason thought they were coming to a benefit concert, but the mood quickly changed.

“I didn’t know her that well, but when I heard about her disappearance, it stuck to me and I’ve been praying every night,” she said. “I’m sure her family has faith. I lost my mom and dad so I know it’s hard, but time heals all things.”

Although the bar’s atmosphere was quiet and with grief, the bands still played in honor of Hickman and her family.

“We just wanted to do a performance in memory of her,” said Derek Newell, whose band was scheduled to play first.

Newell said he went to high school with Hickman and that he arrived to play in Huntington on Friday from Norfolk, Va., where he is stationed.

Huntington City Mayor David Felinton visited the crime scene on Friday night. He said he met with the family and expressed how the whole community really cared and offered their help.

“The family really appreciated how the people in Huntington have done that,” he said. “Her family is certainly in our prayers and particularly at this time of the year it makes it all the more difficult.”

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

The Huntington Police Department announced during a press conference late Friday that the body of a young white female has been found in the crawlspace beneath the apartment complex where Leah Hickman lived. "All indications are that this is the body of Leah Hickman," HPD Lt. Rocky Johnson read in a prepared release.