Post by CCADP on Aug 13, 2005 21:22:18 GMT -5
City man faces rape, homicide charges
Suspect accused of fatally stabbing estranged wife
Saturday, August 13, 2005
BY JACK SHERZER
Of The Patriot-News
Before allegedly stabbing his estranged wife to death, Shawn Michael Marroquin raped her, according to new charges filed yesterday.
Dressed in a Dauphin County Prison orange jumpsuit and flip-flops, Marroquin, 22, of Harrisburg, appeared subdued, initially telling District Judge Michael J. Smith in a voice barely above a whisper that he didn't understand the new charges against him.
According to authorities, on July 22 -- just four weeks after Jessica Louise Marroquin, 23, filed for a protection from abuse order -- Marroquin stabbed her to death while she was at his grandparents' Swatara Twp. home with the couple's 7-month-old daughter.
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A preliminary hearing on the homicide and rape charges is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 26. Marroquin also faces charges of terroristic threats and unlawful restraint in connection with a June 27 incident that led to his estranged wife getting the protection order.
Whether Marroquin might face the death penalty is under consideration, Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. said.
Marsico said Marroquin's alleged violation of the protection order would be a sufficient aggravating circumstance to permit his office to seek the death penalty.
The new charges of rape and threat of force -- alleging Marroquin threatened the victim with a pair of scissors -- are aggravating circumstances. But Marsico said the new charges were not filed with an idea of bolstering a potential death penalty case.
Spero T. Lappas, Marroquin's attorney, said he was surprised by the new sexual assault charges because, from what he's seen, the evidence doesn't support them.
As for whether his client could face the death penalty, Lappas said he did not think the case rises to the level of a capital prosecution.
According to the new charges, Marroquin's grandmother said she heard a fight. When she looked in the upstairs bedroom, she saw the two having sex, but said "Marroquin must have raped her" because Jessica Marroquin was nude from the waist down, according to the affidavit filed with the charges.
Jessica Marroquin moved in with her mother in June and filed for divorce on July 14, two days after their third wedding anniversary, court records state.
In the June 27 incident that led to the protection order, Jessica Marroquin said she visited her husband's city apartment, but he wouldn't let her leave, her order stated.
According to court records, she said Shawn Marroquin dragged her into the bedroom and told her that if she left him, he would kill her.
After the killing, police found Marroquin less than a mile away. Police said he attempted suicide by slashing himself with scissors, and admitted stabbing his wife.
JACK SHERZER: 255-8263 or jsherzer@patriot-news.com
Suspect accused of fatally stabbing estranged wife
Saturday, August 13, 2005
BY JACK SHERZER
Of The Patriot-News
Before allegedly stabbing his estranged wife to death, Shawn Michael Marroquin raped her, according to new charges filed yesterday.
Dressed in a Dauphin County Prison orange jumpsuit and flip-flops, Marroquin, 22, of Harrisburg, appeared subdued, initially telling District Judge Michael J. Smith in a voice barely above a whisper that he didn't understand the new charges against him.
According to authorities, on July 22 -- just four weeks after Jessica Louise Marroquin, 23, filed for a protection from abuse order -- Marroquin stabbed her to death while she was at his grandparents' Swatara Twp. home with the couple's 7-month-old daughter.
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A preliminary hearing on the homicide and rape charges is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 26. Marroquin also faces charges of terroristic threats and unlawful restraint in connection with a June 27 incident that led to his estranged wife getting the protection order.
Whether Marroquin might face the death penalty is under consideration, Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. said.
Marsico said Marroquin's alleged violation of the protection order would be a sufficient aggravating circumstance to permit his office to seek the death penalty.
The new charges of rape and threat of force -- alleging Marroquin threatened the victim with a pair of scissors -- are aggravating circumstances. But Marsico said the new charges were not filed with an idea of bolstering a potential death penalty case.
Spero T. Lappas, Marroquin's attorney, said he was surprised by the new sexual assault charges because, from what he's seen, the evidence doesn't support them.
As for whether his client could face the death penalty, Lappas said he did not think the case rises to the level of a capital prosecution.
According to the new charges, Marroquin's grandmother said she heard a fight. When she looked in the upstairs bedroom, she saw the two having sex, but said "Marroquin must have raped her" because Jessica Marroquin was nude from the waist down, according to the affidavit filed with the charges.
Jessica Marroquin moved in with her mother in June and filed for divorce on July 14, two days after their third wedding anniversary, court records state.
In the June 27 incident that led to the protection order, Jessica Marroquin said she visited her husband's city apartment, but he wouldn't let her leave, her order stated.
According to court records, she said Shawn Marroquin dragged her into the bedroom and told her that if she left him, he would kill her.
After the killing, police found Marroquin less than a mile away. Police said he attempted suicide by slashing himself with scissors, and admitted stabbing his wife.
JACK SHERZER: 255-8263 or jsherzer@patriot-news.com