Pineville man arrested in connection to death of Straight Creek man in Middlesboro

Published 11:00 am Monday, April 29, 2024

A Straight Creek man was found dead in Middlesboro early Saturday morning, April 27, and a Pineville man has been arrested in connection to the case.

According to a report from WRIL, Middlesboro Police responded to a call of an unresponsive man found along the roadway on 15th Street. On the scene officers, led by Lt. Detective Barry Cowan, found a deceased man. Bell County Deputy Coroner Steve Robinson was called and pronounced the man dead with Coroner Jay Steele assisting at Middlesboro ARH Hospital.

The Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as 45-year-old John Robert Fulton of the Straight Creek community in Pineville. His body was sent to Frankfort for an autopsy.

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Cowan, who is in charge of the investigation, arrested 45-year-old Cleston Miracle of Pineville Saturday evening in connection to the case.

Miracle is lodged in the Bell County Detention Center charged with leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid or assistance with death or serious physical injury, no operator’s license, and failure to maintain insurance.

More charges are pending in this ongoing investigation.