Thursday's Internet Edition, March 11, 2010.

Troopers with the State Police Crime Scene Response Unit prepare to enter a home at 122 Locust Avenue (at far left in photo) where police say Kenneth Boggs was beaten to death in his basement apartment last week. Photo by David Hedges

Kenneth Glenn Boggs, 44, was beaten throughout the night of Tuesday, Jan. 19, according to police.

Lt. Clint Wilson of the Spencer Police Dept. responded to a call at 122 Locust Ave. shortly before 9 a.m. the next morning and found Boggs dead on the floor of his basement apartment.

The man who would later be charged with his murder, Greg D. Leach of Letart in Mason County, placed the call.

Leach, also known as “Boo Boo,” marked his 20th birthday the night Boggs was killed.

Sgt. John Caldwell of the Spencer Police Dept. said Leach had known Boggs for about a year.

Caldwell said some friends went to Ripley that night and picked up Leach and another man and returned to Spencer after dark.

They spent time at an apartment on Vandale Avenue before going to the Locust Avenue apartment where Boggs lived alone.

Caldwell said five others were in the apartment that night with Boggs and Leach, where they spent much of the time drinking.

Witnesses allegedly told police they saw Leach knock Boggs into an entertainment stand, which caused him to lose consciousness.

Leach allegedly took Boggs into the bedroom and put him on the bed. Caldwell said some of those at the apartment left at that time.

Leach allegedly stripped Boggs of his clothes, kicked him in the groin several times and punched him in the throat.

Caldwell said Leach continued to beat Boggs off and on during the night, but no weapons were used.

“It was just a straight out beating,” Caldwell said.

Witnesses said when Boggs would lose consciousness, Leach would throw water in his face to revive him and then beat him some more.

As for a motive, Caldwell said, ‘I believe it was pure anger.”

He said Leach was allegedly drinking and taking pills during the night.

An autopsy showed Boggs suffered a broken neck, as well as multiple contusions and lacerations to the face, fractured ribs and severe bruising in the groin area, according to the warrant charging Leach with murder obtained by Patrolman Nathan Harper.

Witnesses named in the warrant were Dustin Brumfield, Jessica Tyo and Alicia Spears.

Leach was arrested early Friday at a friend’s apartment in Ripley and arraigned by Jackson County Magistrate Tom Reynolds.

He is being held without bond in the South Central Regional Jail near Charleston while awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Caldwell, who is heading the investigation, praised the assistance of Harper, other members of the Spencer Police Dept. and Roane Sheriff’s Dept. and officers with the State Police Crime Scene Response Unit.

“Everybody did a great job working together,” he said.

Neighbors were in shock after learning of the death.

“I know Kenny’s going to be missed. He never bothered anybody,” said Denise Riffle, who lived next door to Boggs.