INEZ, Ky. — A Mingo County man has been charged with murder and robbery, following a triple murder discovered at an abandoned strip mine in Martin County back in March.

Lance Ward, 27, of Williamson, was indicted by a Martin County grand jury today. He is charged with three counts of murder and two counts of robbery.

A warrant has been issued for Ward’s arrest, but he is currently being held in the Southwestern Regional Jail in West Virginia. Once the warrant is served, the 24th District Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will begin extradition proceedings.

On March 23, the bodies of Micah Sammons, 20, of Kimper, and Dereck L. James, 26, of Huddy, were found at Goff Hollow, along Route 292 in Martin County, near the Pike County line. A third person found at the scene — Amber Lockard, 31, of Huddy — died five days later.