West Virginia State Police seek tips on missing McDowell woman
Troopers asked for help finding 48-year-old Laura Beth Spade, last seen in Welch since March 2025. She was later found safe.
West Virginia State Police asked the public for help finding 48-year-old Laura Beth Spade, a McDowell County woman last seen in the Welch area and out of contact with her family since March 2025. Troopers with the Welch Detachment said anyone with information should call 304-436-2101.
Authorities were contacted by Spade’s father, Kenna Spade, as the search unfolded. The appeal centered on a simple request, that residents share any detail that might help place Spade, identify where she had been seen, or connect her to a vehicle or route through the Welch area.
The case drew the kind of response common in McDowell County, where steep terrain, narrow hollows and scattered roads can make even short searches difficult. In Welch and nearby communities such as Gary, Keystone, War and Northfork, local tips often come from people who know when a car should not be parked on a road, or when activity in a neighborhood does not match the usual pattern.
Later reporting said Laura Beth Spade was found safe. WVNSTV also reported that Spade had been found safe, ending the public search that had brought the Welch Detachment’s request to local residents.
The case showed how quickly a missing-person report in McDowell County can move from a family concern to a wider community alert, with state police relying on neighbors, motorists and local businesses to help fill in the gaps. In this case, the answer came safely.
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