Boone County residents are in shock and mourning after the murder of Brenda Yeager, a social worker from Lincoln County, who previously worked with families in the Boone County area for more than a decade.

Brenda Yeager, 51, of Hamlin, was reported missing last week after she disappeared while on the job Wednesday, July 30, in Cabell County. She was reportedly last seen by a client in the Dry Ridge area about 12:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday and was driving a blue 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier 4-door.

According to reports, Brenda was in the habit of calling her family members on a daily basis and it was when she did not show up or call-in for work on Thursday morning that her co-workers and family became concerned.

On Friday, August 1, family members and friends began an organized search for Brenda. According to reports, the State Police say that someone called in a tip at 6:30 a.m. By that afternoon, West Virginia State Police reported that they had discovered a burned car and body on Mt. Union Road, just outside of Huntington.

According to criminal complaints filed in the Magistrate Court of Cabell County, three people have been arrested and charged with crimes connected to Brenda Yeager’s murder.

Rosemary Danielle Forney, 22, and Steven Anthony Foster, 23, were arrested on Friday, August 1 on charges of murder, while Steven Foster Sr. was arrested on charges of conspiracy, third-degree arson, and disposal of the body according to the criminal complaints.

Rosemary Forney and Steven Foster resided at the same residence at 4293 Mt. Union Road and it has been reported that the couple has an infant, who was not at the home when police made the arrest. West Virginia State Trooper J.P. Eldrige and Trooper J.C. Kirk were the arresting officers.

West Virginia State Police said that they believe the body discovered was that of Brenda Yeager and her body was sent to Charleston for an autopsy.

First Sgt. A.L. Cummings of the West Virginia State Police confirmed that an autopsy was performed over the weekend. The investigation is still ongoing by the West Virginia State Police.

Steven Foster Sr. told State Troopers that his son, Steven Foster, Jr., came to him and said he had killed someone, according to the criminal complaint filed in the Magistrate Court of Cabell County.

“The accused stated to his son that they could burn the body and the vehicle involved…the accused drove his son to a gas station then proceeded to travel to the crime scene,” the complaint states.

According to the criminal complaints filed in the Magistrate Court of Cabell County, Forney, Jr. and Foster “purposely caus[ed] physical injuries to the victim, Brenda Yeager, a Social Worker, resulting in her death.”

Some media reports have stated that Yeager was sexually assaulted prior to her murder. Although there is no mention of sexual assault in the criminal complaints filed, Sgt. Cummings commented, “There are indications of that, but I can not get into that.”

The reason that certain aspects of the investigation are not released to the public is to corroborate testimony from potential witnesses who may come forward, Sgt. Cummings said.

According to the criminal complaint, “the facts of the crime were confirmed by the defendant’s statements, and [the] coconspirator’s statement.”

Foster Jr., Foster Sr., and Forney are being held at the Western Regional Jail.

Many residents in Cabell, Boone, Lincoln, and surrounding areas have expressed their outrage at what they term a “vicious and senseless killing.”

“As a professional social worker and citizen of the state, I am saddened and frightened by this news. So many people do not know how dangerous the job of social workers, especially CPS and APS workers can be.

“Friends of mine often ask if I am not frightened by my job. I tell them that social workers are often underpaid and underappreciated, but social work is a calling for many of us and a calling we chose to take on. I did not know Brenda, but if she is anything like most social workers I know, she performed her job with pride and compassion. God bless Brenda and her family, friends, and co-workers.

“Know that you are not alone in this time of grief and rest assured Brenda’s murder will never be forgotten by the social work community, we will not let her name be forgotten. I call out to all social workers and similar professionals to wear a black ribbon for the next week in remembrance of her. I also call out to our criminal justice system takes care of the rest,” wrote one concerned citizen.

Samuel A. Hickman, Executive Director of the West Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers stated in an interview with The Herald-Dispatch, in Huntington, that in his 31 years in social work, “I don’t think I’ve seen a crime this heinous perpetrated against a social worker in the line of duty.”

According to Hickman, this tragedy highlights a need for change in the social work system.

Contact Joanie Newman at jnewman@coalvalleynews.com or call 304-369-1165.