Juror Ties Spark New Trial Push | Parkersburg News

Parkersburg News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 22, 2026 · 1m

Barbara Cupp, convicted of second-degree murder in Wood County, is fighting for a new trial after her defense claims a juror had undisclosed past ties to key case figures — including the victim and witnesses — dating back decades. The prosecutor counters that those connections were distant and the juror swore to remain impartial, while also noting the defense had the chance to probe further and may have even hoped the juror’s familiarity would help. With no ruling yet, the judge must decide if those old ties were enough to taint the verdict — a pivotal moment that could determine whether Cupp…