A West Virginia man is facing a first-degree murder charge after allegedly calling 911 early Saturday morning to report that he had shot and killed his wife inside their home.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Kanawha County Metro 911 received a call at approximately 2:59 a.m. from Jason Phillips, 46. Police say Phillips told the dispatcher that he had shot and killed his wife, Joanna Phillips, in the kitchen of their residence.
Jason Phillips told responding officers that his wife had “pushed him to the limit,” leading him to shoot her once in the chest with a shotgun. When deputies arrived at the home on the 3500 block of Allens Fork Road in Sissonville, they found Joanna Phillips deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
“We hate to hear when anyone falls victim to domestic violence, especially when it gets to the point that it involves death,” said Sgt. Jeremy Burns of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Jason Phillips was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the South Central Regional Jail as the investigation continues, according to WSAZ.
Court records show this was not the first time deputies had been called to the Phillips residence for domestic-related incidents. On Dec. 5, 2021, officers responded to a domestic complaint at a nearby address on Allens Fork Road. According to police reports, Joanna Phillips told officers her husband had pointed a pistol at her head multiple times, threatened to kill her, and struck her in the mouth with the gun.
Jason Phillips was charged at the time with domestic assault, domestic battery, and brandishing. Those charges were later dismissed “with prejudice” on March 17, 2022. As part of his bail agreement, Phillips was prohibited from having any direct or indirect contact with his wife.
More recently, deputies were dispatched again to the same residence on March 6, 2025, following another disturbance. According to a criminal complaint, Joanna Phillips said she and her husband had been drinking and arguing after leaving a bar. She alleged that once they returned home, her husband attacked her and struck her multiple times, including hitting her in the back of the head.
Deputies reported finding multiple empty alcohol bottles at the scene. Jason Phillips was charged with domestic battery in that case, and a bench trial is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2026. “Our goal in law enforcement is to prevent this from happening, so when we hear of this, especially with someone we arrested recently, it’s horrible to hear,” Burns said.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that resources are available for individuals experiencing domestic violence and urged anyone in danger to seek help.
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