HOMER — A Licking County man who allegedly murdered his sister and her neighbor Friday afternoon over a dispute regarding a well was arrested by Knox County sheriff’s deputies near Homer on Friday after he allegedly attempted to also murder his brother, Homer Clarence Marcum, 63.
Jerome B. Marcum, 69, of Jug Street Road NW near Johnstown, approached John Walsh, 53, a neighbor from across the road, and shot and killed him at the home of Marcum’s sister, Sonya Sue Marcum, 61, as Walsh and Sue Marcum were talking outside her house.
According to Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp, Walsh was pronounced dead at the scene. Jerome Marcum then followed his sister into the garage, where he shot her. She was flown to Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark, where she died.
Jerome Marcum then drove to his brother’s home at 14201 Vance Road near Homer in Knox County, where he attempted to shoot his brother, according to a press release from Thorp. However, the gun did not fire, and his brother was able to take the weapon from him and hold him at the residence until deputies arrived.
Homer Fire Department squads staged at Ohio 661 until deputies declared the scene safe around 4:30 p.m. According to Knox County Sheriff David Barber, Jerome Marcum was apprehended by KCSO deputies. Barber deferred any statements regarding the arrest or investigation to Thorp’s office.
Jerome Marcum was taken to the Licking County Justice Center, where he is being held on two counts of murder.
According to Thorp, Jerome Marcum confessed to killing his sister and Walsh.
Thorp’s release said Jerome and Sue Marcum were in a dispute regarding a well shared by their properties. The water to Jerome Marcum’s residence may have been turned off by Sue Marcum, according to Thorp.
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