John Lee Wolfe: Pagan biker found guilty of murdering man who had affair with his girlfriend
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
CAROLINA, WEST VIRGINIA: John Lee Wolfe, a member of West Virginia's Pagan Motorcycle Club, has been convicted of orchestrating the murder of Henry Silver, 29, in a chilling saga of a love triangle gone awry.
Wolfe was found guilty on Friday, April 5, of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to West Virginia MetroNews. He currently faces life in prison with no chance of parole.
Insights into the tragic shooting of Henry Silver
The tragic incident unfolded on September 9, 2022, in the parking lot of Wolfe’s girlfriend's apartment complex in Carolina. Eyewitnesses described scenes of heated arguments, pacing, and the sudden eruption of gunfire, leaving Silver fatally wounded on the pavement.
Following his arrest on October 20, 2022, prosecutors presented compelling evidence linking Wolfe to the murder, citing his affiliation with the Pagan Motorcycle Club and the club's warped ideology regarding relationships.
Marion County Assistant Prosecutor Sean Murphy highlighted in court documents that the gang viewed significant others as "property" and perceived affairs as "property theft," setting the stage for the violent retribution, reported The Times West Virginian.
The prosecutor noted, "As the saying goes, play stupid games win stupid prizes. These men shall reap what they sow with their beliefs and conduct."
Murphy underscored the calculated nature of the crime, emphasizing Wolfe's consultation with the local club chapter president about "the need to do something to put a stop to it eventually, teach Henry a lesson, and get rid of Doe," referring to his girlfriend by an alias.
Wolfe was one of five people initially charged in Silver's death.
Defense tried hard to discredit the prosecution's case against John Lee Wolfe
The prosecution argued that the murder was a chilling display of organized violence carried out in accordance with the club's principles, branding it as an act of domestic terrorism.
Despite efforts by Wolfe's defense attorneys, Scott Alan Shough and John Colton Rogers, to discredit the prosecution's case, the jury delivered a resounding verdict, holding Wolfe accountable for his role in the fatal shooting.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Silver's family grappled with the devastating loss of their beloved son, brother, and father of seven. On GoFundMe, his sister wrote, "He had his whole life left to live and he was stolen from us at only 29 years old."
