INEZ, Ky. — New Martin County High School principal Bryan Charles, 53, was found deceased at his camper home near Fast Lane this morning. Charles, who lives at Phelps, Ky. had a nice camper set up near Fast Lane where he stayed some nights.
His body was discovered this morning by his son, who is a state trooper.
Martin County Sheriff John Kirk said the death has been ruled as natural causes of an apparent heart attack. Kirk said Trooper Charles said his dad had been having chest pains recently.
This was his first year as MCHS principal replacing Martha Williams who retired last year.
“It was an absolute shock,” Martin County Schools Chief Larry James said this morning on his way home from the scene at approximately 2:00 pm. this afternoon James said Charles had been working in Martin County four years at Warfield Elementary and the kids and parents “loved him.”
James said Charles had been at the high school since August and staff and students liked him there, too.. “He was a very personable person and people liked him here.”
James said the school system’s Thanksgiving week off will give them some extra time to work out how to move forward.
I’m so heartbroken to hear this. Brian and I were neighbors when we were younger at Jamboree,KY. He would come over and the two of us would play with marbles. Brian was a good friend. His family is so loved by me. My thoughts and prayers are with Janet, Mitch, Sissy, Ginger, All of his family and friends. Gone to Soon 💔😢. Heaven gained another Angel 😇 God Bless You All 🙏🙏🙏