© 2026 ABC News

Eddie Williams said the pairs separated \"to have sex,\" with he and Treadway going in one direction and Beverly and Kayla Williams going in another.

\"Eddie said that the pairs had split up to have sex with each other,\" according to the criminal complaint. \"Interviews with Kayla, Cody and Erica at a later date did say that they had separated to have sex.\"

\"PHOTO:
Southern Regional Jail
PHOTO: Cody Beverly, 21, was arrested Dec. 21 for allegedly breaking into a West Virginia mine to steal copper, police said.
>

Eddie Williams managed to escape on Dec. 10, and reported the others missing. They were pulled out of the mine three days later after a large-scale rescue operation.

While the rescue efforts were underway, Kayla Williams' father, Randy Williams, told ABC News, \"The reason they're in there is to get copper.\"

\"It's worth money,\" he said. \"A couple years ago it was up to almost $4 a pound. You could go into a mine and make $1,000 a day.\"

\"PHOTO:
Southern Regional Jail
PHOTO: Kayla Williams, 25, is charged with conspiracy, destruction of public property and entering without breaking, Dec. 26, 2018.
>

Eddie Williams said the group \"had entered the mine before to try and make money,” according to the complaint.

Beverly and Kayla Williams spoke with reporters outside of Charleston General Hospital, where they were taken for an evaluation after being rescued. Although they didn't offer details on why they entered the underground mine, they said the experience had taught them the biggest lesson of their lives.

\"PHOTO:
Southern Regional Jail
PHOTO: Erica Treadway, 31, turned herself into police, Dec. 26, 2018, officials said.
>

\"This is a life-changing experience for me,\" Beverly told ABC News. \"This is the biggest lesson I've ever learned in my life.\"

ABC News' Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

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