The Diggerer

The FBI and ATF reported they worked the with The West Virginia State Police to bust a ring of New Yorkers that were running "Hunger Games" type events in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. According to FBI Senior Field Agent Fred Stankus at a press conference Wednesday, Brett Hardick, 46; Roger Rawlings, 54; Terry Stephens, 51; and Jack Edens , 62; all of New York were arrested and facing multiple charges including kidnapping, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment.

There are charges pending on local residents of Greenbrier County that assisted in the staging of the games. Many more arrests are expected. According to Agent Stankus, six victims were kidnapped and being trained to engage in a fight to the death. Like in the book and movie "Hunger Games", the contestants would fight the forces of nature and themselves to see who would survive. It is believed that bets were being taken from around the world via their website (not released). The identities of the victims or where they are from have also not been released.

Greenbrier County is a very remote section of West Virginia and was apparently chosen because of it's secluded location. The exact location where the games were being staged has not been released.  

It is believed that this was the first event of it's kind.  There have not been any bodies found in the area. It is believed that the games were to be held the first weekend in May.  Stankus said that an agent who portrayed himself as a weapons dealer was able to penetrate the group and gather evidence. The investigation is still ongoing and the amount of information about the allegations is very limited.

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