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Thread: Cedric Joseph Marks - Texas Death Row

  1. #31
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    In letter, Marks questions evidence, reporting in his capital murder case

    By Eric E. Garcia
    Killeen Daily Herald

    In a four-page handwritten letter to the Temple Daily Telegram, Cedric Marks talks about his pending criminal case but doesn’t include the names of Jenna Scott or Michael Swearingin, the Temple residents he is accused of killing in 2019.

    “My name is Cedric Marks, and I am currently a pre-trial detainee at the Bell County Jail accused of several very serious crimes, to all of which I have maintained my innocence,” Marks said in the letter dated Sept. 13.

    Marks, who is defending himself in the death penalty case with assistance from defense attorneys, complained about media coverage of pre-trial hearings he’s involved in. Specifically, he said, reporting of his alleged victims’ injuries is inaccurate. Marks attempted to act like a lawyer with his letter.

    “Either way, it is unethical and defamatory reporting, and if printed again outside of fact, will be met with legal action,” Marks said.

    Marks — who escaped from law enforcement custody in Conroe for nine hours after his 2019 arrest — appears to not have had much access to television or newspaper reports while in jail. Autopsy reports for Scott and Swearingin received national media attention as numerous outlets across the country cited the violence of their deaths.

    “Your reporter has consistantly (sic) falsely reported about the findings of an autopsy report, stating that it indicates one of the alleged victims was determined to have died from ‘multiple traumatic injuries,’” Marks said in the letter. “That is blantantly (sic) not true, and in fact, the report doesn’t list a single life-threatening injury.”

    Autopsy reports

    The complete autopsy report of Scott, 28, Marks’ ex-girlfriend, by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office revealed she had a difficult, violent death on Jan. 3, 2019. Her cause of death is listed as homicidal violence, noting Scott had multiple injuries that included contusions, broken ribs, internal bleeding and other injuries, but no drugs or evidence of drugs were found in her system, according to the toxicology report.

    Scott’s autopsy showed no signs of strangulation were found, which is how her friend Swearingin, 32, died — also on Jan. 3 — according to autopsy results. Swearingin’s report also showed various contusions, cuts and abrasions on his body. The toxicology report for Swearingin also indicated no drugs were detected in his system.

    Scott’s father, Jonathan Scott, previously said, “I don’t understand all of the medical terminology — but it appears that Jenna suffered a very violent death. It’s impossible for me to comprehend the level of hatred it takes to commit a crime like this.”

    The autopsy report from the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner’s office showed Swearingin died from asphyxia caused by strangulation. The cause of death was listed as homicide.

    Arrest affidavits

    Marks, a former mixed martial arts fighter and trainer who was employed at Title Boxing Club in Killeen, is charged as well as Maya Maxwell, Marks’ girlfriend, who gave birth to a child while in custody.

    Scott and Swearingin reportedly were killed by Marks at a Killeen residence, according to an arrest affidavit. Their bodies were transported to Clearview, Okla., and both were buried in a shallow grave on abandoned property, an arrest affidavit said. The bodies were discovered Jan. 14, 2019, after Maxwell reportedly admitted to Temple Police Department investigators she drove Swearingin’s car to Austin to hide it there. Maxwell was in the residence with Marks when he reportedly killed Swearingin and Scott.

    According to the affidavit for Maxwell, she said Scott and Swearingin were in separate rooms in the house when Marks went into each one. She said she heard a struggle after he went into each room and then Marks came out. When she checked the rooms, Scott and Swearingin were dead, Maxwell said.

    Maxwell went with Marks to Oklahoma and was there when the bodies were buried, Maxwell said in the affidavit. Marks and Maxwell, of Muskegon, Mich., were both indicted by a Bell County grand jury in connection with the Jan. 3, 2019, deaths of Swearingin and Scott.

    Suspect speculates

    Marks, 48, said he believes FME News Service reporter Christian Betancourt’s reporting to include autopsy report information is motivated by “his personal relationship with the alleged victim’s family.”

    The reporter, who joined the Telegram in October 2021, has some contact with family members during trial proceedings. The newspaper has interviewed family members for prior reports. The late Deborah McKeon, who was named Reporter of the Year by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors (now Texas Managing Editors) in 2020, launched the Telegram’s reporting on the double homicide case.

    “It is my speculation that Mr. Bettencourt (sic) puts that in his report each time to insinuate to the public that some sort of beatings caused this young woman’s death with the wide knowledge that I am in face (sic) a former MMA competitor,” Marks said. “That statement infers guilt, and is false reporting and defamatory, which also poisons potential jurors and further perpetuates the previous false accusation that I was an abuser — which all evidence in hand completely refutes. Either Mr. Bettencourt (sic) has never seen the autopsy report or he is going on hearsay from individuals motivated to have me found guilty whether through ethical or unethical means. … I am not requesting that truth be printed because that hasn’t happened once. I am simply asking that lies not be printed. Mr. Bettencourt (sic) is free to continue his clearly biased, cherry picked reporting of me, since I seem to be his pet project due to his personal relationship with the alleged victim’s family, and his assumed need to follow suit of every other desperate reporter seeking ratings for salacious subjects.”

    Criminal cases

    Marks also is being looked at in connection with the disappearance of his former girlfriend and mother of one of his sons, April Pease, from Bloomington, Minn., on March 17, 2009, Bloomington Deputy Chief Mike Hartley previously told the FME News Service.

    Pease was 30 years old when she disappeared and has never been located. At the time she went missing, she and Marks were going through a bitter child custody battle, after which Marks was given that son’s custody, court documents said. Foul play was suspected in the disappearance in Tulsa, Okla., of Andre Ogans, Tulsa Police have said. Ogans was scheduled to testify against Marks in a Tulsa court case.

    Marks — who was convicted of attempted robbery with a firearm in Tulsa County, Okla. — reportedly told Scott he killed Ogans and buried him in an Oklahoma cemetery, the Telegram previously reported. Marks wasn’t officially named as a capital murder suspect until he escaped from a prisoner transport company bringing him from Michigan to Texas on an arrest warrant for a burglary of a habitation charge with intent to commit another felony at Scott’s home on Aug. 21, 2018.

    Once Marks escaped, the Temple Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for capital murder. After a 9-hour manhunt by multiple law enforcement agencies, Marks was recaptured in Conroe.

    In addition to the capital murder and burglary charge, Marks remains in the Bell County Jail with bonds that total more than $2 million. He also is charged with tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair, interfering with an emergency call, making a false report to a police officer and violation of a protective order with bias/prejudice, a case that involved Scott.

    Civil case comparison

    In his letter, Marks compares journalism on criminal justice cases to the civil legal cases of InfoWars founder Alex Jones and actress Amber Heard, both of whom were found legally liable for defamatory or false statements each made in public.

    “So, this is not any kind of threat nor attempt to intimidate or even change (a reporter’s) motivations or opinion, but this again is only a courtesy request to discontinue printing false evidence + statements that have to do with reports or my counsel,” Marks said. “If that cannot happen, then I will follow up with legal action, especially since if the false info from the autopsy report is printed again after your office has been alerted that if is plainly false, it will fall under defamation, false reporting and other subjects better placed in a suit by my attorney. If we have learned anything from Alex Jones and Amber Heard is that words matter. If justice is to be had, let it be from the truth, not from lies, misquotes and purposeful information.”

    Plans for the future

    Marks, who used the nickname Spider-Man for martial arts competitions and once taught self-defense classes for women, also had an issue with a printed jail mugshot taken after he was arrested in 2019 — the most recent available on the county’s jail online database.

    “Be sure to thank Mr. Bettencourt (sic) for continuing to display that picture of me each time in order to show me as some deranged person, even though that pic was taken after a month in solitary with no razor or ability to access a shower, and in fact, before this nightmare began, I’ve never had facial hair nor that look in my life,” Marks said. “I thank him because when I get through this and am able to clear my name, any future MMA opponents will be intimated from that picture alone, and since I’ve long fell (sic) out of shape to compete, I’ll need all the intimidation in the ring possible. Cheers."

    https://kdhnews.com/news/crime/in-le...b6ff7fa5d.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  2. #32
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    Cedric Marks trial delayed again as he makes new requests

    Capital murder suspect Cedric Marks was back in court for another pre-trial hearing Tuesday

    By Bailey Bates
    Temple Daily Telegram

    BELL COUNTY, Texas — Capital murder suspect Cedric Marks was back in court for another pre-trial hearing Tuesday. He is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Jenna Scott and her friend Michael Swearingin in Temple back in January 2019.

    The capital murder trial has continued to get pushed back as more requests and motions come in from both sides. This time Marks is requesting more access to phones and a change in his standby counsel.

    In a packed courtroom Tuesday afternoon Marks complained to Judge Steve Duskie about his assigned standby counsel. He said they don't do what he needs and he hardly hears from them. Marks asked local defense attorney John Galligan to be added to the crew as he defends himself in what he calls a "death penalty case."

    Judge Duskie granted the request but reminded Marks that his standby counsel can only do so much.

    "They are only to provide answers to legal questions, not to argue for you, not to do it for you, but just assist with questions you have," he said in court.

    As both sides prepare for trial, there's been uncertainty with Marks representing himself. Bell County District Attorney Henry Garza asked the judge to reiterate if Marks will be representing himself throughout the trial process and that he wasn't forced as Marks had claimed to be in prior pre-trial hearings.

    Marks told the court Tuesday that he's not going back on his decision.

    "I am pro se," he said. "At this point I would never hand it back to the {Regional Public Defender Office] as the trust is broken there."

    Marks also took the time to request one 30 minute call per week at no cost that cannot be recorded. He said he was fine with being monitored by jail staff as long as there was no way for anyone to record what he was saying as he was preparing for his defense.

    Major Shane Sowell, the Bell County jail administrator, was called to the stand by the Bell County prosecutors to put into question if the request should be made.

    "My main concern is the staffing with the current phone situation we have," he told the court. "I don't know if it's feasible to get a phone in a room where he does discovery."

    Sowell said Marks is always escorted and monitored by at least two jailers as he is considered a high risk inmate. He explained that if the request were to be granted, there would have to be a change or increase in manpower at the Bell County Jail to meet standards.

    Judge Duskie did not make a ruling on Marks' phone request Tuesday and said he will take it under consideration.

    Self representation rights are going to be discussed again at the next hearing.

    The capital murder trial is set for February 21.

    https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/...nalty%20case."
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  3. #33
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    Jury selection starts in the Capital Murder trial of Cedric Marks

    Dean Wetherbee

    Bell County (FOX 44/KWKT) — The Capital Murder trial of Cedric Marks has started in the 426th Judicial District Court in the Bell County Courthouse. Jury selection started on Monday.

    Marks is accused of killing Jenna Scott and Michael Swearingin, who were both reported missing on January 4th, 2019. Marks is representing himself, with the help of John P. Galligan.

    During the first day of jury selection, Marks objected to being forced to wear a leg iron in court. This objection was overruled. The prosecution has agreed to stay seated during the trial as to not call attention to the leg iron.

    Five potential jury members were dismissed on the first day. Marks asked to dismiss three others and was denied. Prosecutors asked to dismiss one and was denied.

    On Tuesday, two more potential jurors were dismissed for cause. A third person was allowed to leave because she will soon report for basic training. The defense asked to remove two more potential jurors and was denied.

    Cedric Marks has been in the Bell County Jail since February of 2019, after being arrested in Michigan. While on his way back to face the capital murder charges, authorities say Marks escaped custody. He was later caught after a nine-hour manhunt.

    Marks fired his attorneys and petitioned to represent himself in 2021. According to court documents, the 426th Judicial District Court Judge signed the motion on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021 to discharge Marks’ counsel. Judge Duskie ordered the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases to hand over the defense file to Marks.

    Marks pleaded not guilty to all charges, including burglary and capital murder. If found guilty, Marks faces life in prison or the death penalty.

    Marks’ co-defendant is Maya Maxwell. She is accused of helping him dispose of the bodies of Scott and Swearingin, as well as Swearingin’s car.

    Maxwell also gave birth to a son she shares with Marks while behind bars. He is now 3 years old and at last report is in foster care.

    FOX 44 News will bring you updates on the criminal case.

    https://www.fox44news.com/news/local...ric-marks/amp/
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  4. #34
    Moderator Ryan's Avatar
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    I'm calling it now, Marks is going to Texas' death row!
    "How do you get drunk on death row?" - Werner Herzog

    "When we get fruit, we get the juice and water. I ferment for a week! It tastes like chalk, it's nasty" - Blaine Keith Milam #999558 Texas Death Row

  5. #35
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    I hope so but considering Marks is black and his victims are white, it’s not a guarantee
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  6. #36
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    A month later, capital murder trial Cedric Marks still mired in jury selection

    Marks is charged in the 2019 deaths of his former girlfriend Jenna Scott and her friend Michael Swearingen

    By Madison Herber

    BELL COUNTY, Texas (KWTX) - We are one month into the jury selection for Cedric Marks, a Bell County man behind bars being charged with capital murder.

    Legal expert Vic Feazell says whenever the state pursues the death penalty that the process to prepare for trial is thorough.

    “You get individual voir dire, voir dire is a fancy word for jury selection. It means that each individual juror is talked to alone. It’s just the lawyers, and the juror and the judge,” Feazell says.

    He adds that sometimes the vetting process for just one person can take hours. Another reason behind the delay is that selection started in February, so naturally a few days were lost.

    But, Feazell says that Marks can also be blamed for the hold up.

    “I anticipate all kinds of delays in this case and I think that him representing himself is also slowing down the jury selection process,” Feazell says.

    He also says that the jury selection process is not necessarily an indication on how long the trial could last.

    According to the court docket from Wednesday’s continued jury selection, it says that both sides were given notice for motions to be heard on Monday.

    https://www.kwtx.com/2023/03/30/mont...outputType=amp
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  7. #37
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    Date set for Cedric Marks Capital Murder Trial

    By Dean Wetherbee
    KLBK News

    Bell County (FOX 44/KWKT) — After more than a month of jury selection, the first day of actual testimony in the Cedric Marks Capital Murder trial is set for April 17th.

    Marks is accused of killing Jenna Scott and Michael Swearingin, who were both reported missing from Temple on January 4th, 2019. Investigators later found their bodies in Oklahoma.

    Scott and Marks were at one time romantically involved, but had broken up. Swearingin and Scott were longtime friends.

    Marks is representing himself, with the help of John P. Galligan. Marks fired his attorneys and petitioned to represent himself in 2021.
    <aside>
    </aside>Marks pleaded not guilty to all charges, including burglary and capital murder. If found guilty, Marks faces life in prison or the death penalty.

    During jury selection, Marks and the prosecution interviewed almost 200 potential jury members. They will return to court on April 10th to make their final cuts for the jury and alternates.

    Marks’ co-defendant is Maya Maxwell. She is accused of helping him dispose of the bodies of Scott and Swearingin, as well as Swearingin’s car.

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/ne...-murder-trial/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  8. #38
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    Edited:

    Jury selection nears completion for Cedric Marks trial

    By Earl Stoudemire
    FOX 44 News

    Waco, TX (FOX 44) — Jury selection is expected to wrap-up Monday in the trial for Cedric Marks scheduled to begin April 17th.

    He’s facing capital murder charges for the deaths of his ex-girlfriend Jenna Scott, and her friend Michael Swearingin back in January 2019.

    Scott and Swearingin were both reported missing from Temple on January 4 and their bodies were found in Oklahoma five days later on January 9.

    In an affidavit made by the Temple Police Department Scott and Swearingin were murdered at a home in Killeen on January 3, 2019.

    Cedric Marks has been in the Bell County jail since February 2019.

    In August 2021, Marks fired his attorney and is now representing himself.

    Jury selection started in February this year and we are now in the final steps before trial begins.

    Marks pleaded not guilty to all charges including burglary and capital murder.

    If found guilty, Marks faces life in prison or the death penalty.

    https://www.fox44news.com/news/jury-...c-marks-trial/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  9. #39
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    TIMELINE | Double-murder trial of Cedric Marks to begin Monday

    The MMA fighter is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Jenna Scott, and her friend, Michael Swearingin, in Temple back in January 2019

    By Melissa Guz and Jasmine Caldwell

    kcentv.com

    BELL COUNTY, Texas — After four long years, the trial for former mixed martial arts fighter Cedric Marks is set to begin on Monday, April 17. The Central Texas man is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Jenna Scott, and her friend, Michael Swearingin, in Temple back in January 2019.

    This case is a complicated one that involves multiple people, dark pasts, multiple documents and crosses state lines. Below, you'll find a recap of the case.

    Jenna Scott & Michael Swearingin's disappearance

    It was a calm Saturday morning on Jan. 5, 2019. The Temple Police Department made a post on Facebook that day asking for the public’s help to find two missing friends: Swearingin, 32, a salesman, and Jenna Scott, 28, a nursing student at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.

    The two were last seen the day before driving a gray Hyundai Genesis, according to the post.

    The day after the pair disappeared, Swearingin's car was found in Austin, according to Talon Scott, Jenna Scott's brother.

    "His car was found on 12th East Street and they found his phone a block away," Talon Scott said in 2019.

    He also told 6 News at the time that he feared for their safety

    "I believe that my sister is being held hostage somewhere," he said. “Time is of the essence. I believe this is a very serious situation."

    At the time, Talon Scott said his sister was dating a man in Killeen who she met on Tinder back in 2015. He was described to be a former MMA fighter known as Cedric "Spider-Man" Marks.

    Although he had not been named a suspect at the time of Jenna Scott's disappearance, Marks defended himself in an email he sent to 6 News.

    “I’ve been turned into a monster," he wrote. "There's a witch hunt going on for something that I’ve had nothing to do with."

    Protective Order against Marks

    As the search for the two wore on, 6 News learned Jenna Scott had filed for a protective order against Marks in July of 2018.

    In the document, Jenna Scott claimed she feared for her life.

    "He told me he had killed someone in Oklahoma but that he was able to cover it up and that he could do the same here in Texas," the document said.

    She also said Marks choked her into unconsciousness.

    "On two occasions, he choked me until I lost consciousness. Each time, he allowed me to regain consciousness and then he choked me out again," according to the document.

    Jenna Scott described similar instances to Judge Paul Lepak during a protective order hearing on Aug. 15, 2018, just months before she disappeared.

    "He wants to take away my dreams, my livelihood, and my future," Jenna Scott testified. "Anything that's important to me, significant in my life, he wants to destroy me."

    At the same trial, Marks testified and claimed Jenna Scott was the abuser and that things he's done to her were in self-defense.

    "Jenna Scott would do enough just to hook, to keep me in," Marks testified. "She knew how to just do just enough to keep me going and a lot of times she beat me, she punched me."

    Ultimately, Lepak denied the protective order.

    "I am not super comfortable with my ruling, but I find that what I heard was very likely defensive measures and so I don't think it's appropriate for a protective order," LePak said on Sept. 17, 2018.

    Read the protective order here.

    Cedric Marks arrested

    On Jan. 8, Marks was arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan for reportedly breaking into Jenna Scott's home. He was charged with burglary and set to be extradited to Bell County.

    Two other people were also arrested in Michigan: Ginell McDonough and Maya Maxwell.

    McDonough, who is Marks' wife and mother of two of his kids, was arrested for reportedly harboring fugitives, police said. Marks and Maxwell were reportedly staying with McDonough from Jan. 5, 2019 to Jan. 9, 2019.

    Maxwell, who was arrested on Jan. 11, 2019, told police she moved Swearingin's car to Austin to hide it from officers. She was charged for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

    Bodies found in Oklahoma

    On Jan. 15, 2019, two bodies were discovered in a shallow grave in the small town of Clearview, Okla., just south of Tulsa, the Temple Police Department said.

    Two days later, an autopsy by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Officer confirmed the bodies were of Jenna Scott and Swearingin.

    6 News traveled to Clearview, Okla. and learned Cedric Marks had ties to the area. Turns out, his family lived there.

    “Yes, we know him. We’ve seen him. His dad grew up here in Clearview. We have a family reunion every year here," said Shirly Nero, cousin of Cedric Marks.

    After the bodies were found, the grieving process began for both families. Jenna Scott's father, Johnathan Scott, said the feeling was overwhelming.“We are grieving of course,” he said. “We have been for several days now. But it’s still pretty surreal and difficult to process.”

    The two were laid to rest on Jan. 25, 2019 and Jan. 26, 2019.

    On April 3, 2019, Oklahoma authorities released Jenna Scottt's cause of death, saying she was strangled.

    Maxwell: Marks killed Scott and Swearingin

    According to an arrest affidavit, Maxwell told police Marks killed both Jenna Scott and Swearingin and that their bodies were dumped in Clearview, Okla.

    Maxwell told police the two were alive when Marks brought them to a Killeen residence, according to the affidavit. Maxwell told police she heard a struggle when Marks entered the rooms with Swearingin and Jenna Scott, the affidavit continues.

    She also told officers she was there when both bodies were buried in Oklahoma, according to the affidavit.

    Maxwell was also charged with capital murder. Her trial date has not been set, but she does have a hearing scheduled for April.

    Cedrick Marks escapes

    Despite their bodies being discovered, authorities didn't name Marks a suspect.

    It wasn't until after he escaped from a prisoner transport van while stopped in Conroe and set-off a nine-hour manhunt in Montgomery County in February when they deemed him a suspect in their deaths.

    Seventeen agencies were involved in the extensive search. Authorities used K9 units, scoped through surveillance footage, all to get a better idea of where Marks was located.

    Turns out, Marks was hiding in a 55-gallon trash can while still in shackles. Authorities believed he was inside the trash can the entire time he escaped and didn't make contact with anybody.

    Marks was later booked into the Bell County Jail on Feb. 3, 2019. He was charged with capital murder of multiple persons and other charges, including interference with an emergency call, false reporting to a law enforcement agency employee, violation of a protective order, and burglary of a habitation and committing a crime.In a jailhouse interview with 6 News, Marks claimed he wasn't trying to escape.

    "Despite what the media put out, I was not trying to escape,” Marks said. "I was actually in fear, and I was not going anywhere at all... Like I said, the media has put out a witch hunt for me and I am not guilty."

    Marks' bond amount was raised on Feb. 4 from $16,500 to $250,000 for the charge of burglary of a habitation and $1.5 million for the charge of capital murder of multiple persons.

    A third murder charge

    The case against Marks in Texas, would eventually lead to another murder charge. This time, the charge stems from Bloomington, Minnesota.

    6 News learned Marks was in a custody battle with a woman named April Pease over their son. Pease was staying in a women’s shelter in Minnesota when she went missing in March of 2009.

    Police believe marks killed Pease and hid her body, which has yet to be found. He was charged in 2020 with second-degree murder in connection with her death.

    Police say they are waiting to pursue extradition until after his trial in Texas.

    Headed to trial

    The capital murder trial against Marks has been delayed repeatedly throughout the years.

    In June 2021, Marks argued for and won the right to represent himself in his trial. (This won't be the first time Cedric Marks has represented himself in court. he argued to have that protective order dismissed that Scott filed against him back in 2018, mentioned above.)

    Since winning the right to represent himself, Marks has made multiple "discovery requests" or requests for information relevant to his defense, which caused complications for prosecutors, which you can read here.

    As both the prosecution and defense (Marks) continued to make requests in this case, they continued to have it pushed back. Marks had a trial date set for April 2021, but then it was pushed back to June 2021. It was then pushed back to November 2022, but once again was delayed to start in February 2023.

    On Feb. 21 this year, jury selection began. On Monday, April 17, the trial is finally set to begin. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

    *Be sure to tune into 6 News on air and online for daily recaps in the double-murder trial against Marks.*

    https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/...5-0072ce430053
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  10. #40
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    Testimony begins in Cedric Marks Capital Murder trial

    By Earl Stoudemire and Dean Wetherbee
    FOX 44 News

    BELL COUNTY, Texas (FOX44) – The first day of testimony in the Cedric Marks Capital Murder trial started at 9 a.m. Monday in Bell County’s 426th District Court.

    As of around 10 a.m. Monday, prosecutors just gave opening statements in the trial. They provided information on Marks and Maxwell being found near at a Walmart in Henrietta, Oklahoma – where they purchased clothes and a shovel to bury Michael Swearingin and Jenna Scott.

    Marks said in his opening statement he would put forth his own evidence to maintain innocence, and to also cross examine everyone who takes the witness stand. He said this is not the Cedric Marks trial – but a trial for every party to get justice.

    Michael Swearingen’s mother, Deborah Harrison, was the first to take the witness stand. She gave remarks of Swearingen – saying Marks threatened him on court grounds during Scott’s protective hearing in 2018. After the hearing in 2018, Harrison said

    Swearingen wanted to have a gun and found out he stayed with a friend for a week until a security system was installed in his home.
    <aside>
    </aside>Around 2:30 p.m. Monday, Jenna Scott’s mother Karen took to the witness stand. She shared she knew well of Jenna and Mark’s relationship. Karen said Jenna spoke of Mark physically and emotionally abusing her. Karen recounted when Jenna spoke in court for her protective order about Mark choking her until unconscious.

    Karen says Jenna became fearful of Mark always making it a point to be near someone. Karen said Jenna felt that he would kill her. Karen said Jenna experienced Mark sending emails to her professors at UMHB to get her nursing license restricted.

    As of around 2:45 p.m. Monday, Cedric Marks is about to cross examine Jenna Scott’s mother, Karen. He plans to bring forth exhibits for the jury.

    Marks is accused of killing Jenna Scott and Michael Swearingin, who were both reported missing from Temple on January 4th, 2019. Investigators later found their bodies in Oklahoma. Scott and Marks were at one time romantically involved, but had broken up.

    Swearingin and Scott were longtime friends.

    Marks is representing himself, with the help of John P. Galligan. Marks fired his attorneys and petitioned to represent himself in 2021. Marks pleaded not guilty to all charges – including burglary and capital murder. If found guilty, Marks faces life in prison or the death penalty.

    During almost two months of selection, Marks and the prosecution interviewed close to 200 potential jury members. On April 10, they made their final cuts for the jury and alternates.

    Marks’ co-defendant is Maya Maxwell, who is accused of helping him dispose of the bodies of Scott and Swearingin – as well as Swearingin’s car.

    Maxwell also gave birth to a son she shares with Marks while behind bars. He is now three years old – and, at last report, is in foster care.

    https://www.fox44news.com/news/local...-murder-trial/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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