A woman says she stumbled into what she calls “the most West Virginia interaction ever” in her home state. It involved two strangers, small talk, and a son who had allegedly robbed the same gas station more than a dozen times.
The content creator, Denita (@denitabarr), shared the story in a TikTok video that got over 402,000 views.
What Did She Hear That Made Her Stop In Her Tracks?
In her clip, Denita explains that she was minding her own business when she caught two women chatting nearby. At first, it was harmless enough. One asked the other where she lived. “She was like, ‘Oh, I live in Beaver,’” Denita recalls.
The second woman responded, “Oh really, my son lives in Beaver. That’s a good area.”
When asked where in Beaver, the second woman casually responded, “SRJ,” referencing the Southern Regional Jail. Denita says she nearly snapped her neck trying not to laugh.
But the conversation didn’t stop there. “The other one kept talking,” Denita continues. “She said, ‘Oh, yeah, he robbed the Sunoco 13 times.’”
By the fourteenth time, even the police seemed baffled. According to what Denita overheard, the arresting officer asked, “Kevin, what the hell’s wrong? Why are you doing this?” The son allegedly shot back, “Me? I robbed this gas station 14 times, and y’all still don’t have an alarm.”
Denita says she found the comeback extremely entertaining.
“I just want you to know I had to be so dead,” Denita tells viewers. “I told everybody I knew.”
Commenters Side With Kevin
Viewers couldn’t help but laugh along with Kevin.
“Hang on a second. Kevin’s gotta point,” one wrote. Another added, “14 times?! No alarms!? I’d be in tears holding in my laugh.”
Others chimed in with their own hometown comparisons. “Sounds like my hometown and honestly I’m with Kevin,” a commenter said. “How you gonna let someone rob you 14xs?”
Some fixated on the facility. “When you said ‘SRJ’ I about fell outta my damn chair,” one person admitted.
Another joked, “I wonder if her son will tell my step dad I said hey.”
What Is SRJ, And Why Is It Notorious?
The Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, is where Kevin is reportedly housed. The facility has long had a reputation across the state. Officially, it serves as a holding center for people awaiting trial or sentencing. Unofficially, it’s become known for overcrowding, complaints of neglect, and far worse.
In 2022 alone, 14 inmates died there, sparking outrage from families and advocacy groups. They argue the conditions inside are “deplorable,” with reports of poor medical care and unchecked violence. The deaths have prompted the West Virginia Poor People’s Campaign to join families in calling for a federal investigation.
This year, several former correctional officers have already been sentenced for their roles in inmate deaths, cementing SRJ’s reputation as one of the most troubled facilities in the region.