Marion County’s serial car thief is dead

Philip Rhoades, 28, charged with stealing at least nine autos, including jumping from one to another stolen car while being chased by police, died after being shot by Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies Wednesday, August 2.

Philip Rhoades

Deputies pursued Rhoades, who was in a stolen Jeep Wrangler, on August 2.

At least three stolen cars tied to Rhoades were grabbed in Mill Fall in a week's time.

Rhoades was wanted in connection with a series of pursuits on July 25 and August 2 in Marion County. He was facing 22, according to the Marion County Magistrate Clerk’s Office.

On July 25, police discovered Rhoades at a residence on Little Mill Fall Road. He had been living at a home without the owner’s permission, according to the criminal complaint.

He fled in a white truck registered to Dominion Energy that had been stolen from a Goshen Road worksite in Monongalia County. Upon his initial flight from police, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department reports Rhoades “recklessly drove at [the] deputy.” That, in turn, forced the deputy to jump out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.

The July 25 pursuit took Rhoades through a number of rural Marion County neighborhoods, including Worthington and Monongah. During the course of the pursuit, he is accused of stealing at least four vehicles.

Rhoades crashed the white truck registered to Dominion Energy on Little Mill Fall Road. While fleeing on foot, he is then accused of stealing a Ford Explorer from a nearby residence. Rhoades was pursued through Monongah, but police ended that pursuit out of fear for the public’s safety.

Rhoades led another Sheriff’s Deputy on a pursuit along U.S. 19, which also included driving through private yards and eventually into Roger’s Village Trailer Court. He then crashed the Explorer while trying to gain access to the rail trail at Everson Bridge.

Rhoades then stole a GMC truck and traveled the trail toward Worthington, according to the criminal complaint. The vehicle became inoperable when Rhoades attempted to drive it through a field.

He stole a fourth vehicle, a white Suzuki, before escaping his police pursuers.

The second pursuit was initiated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on August 2 near the Mannington area. Rhoades was said to be driving a stolen Jeep Wrangler. He was pursued into the Parrish Run Road area, which is where the shooting occurred.

West Virginia State Police is investigating.