Arkansas : Marquis Martin
Photo: AmberlysPlace.com
Monticello is a city located in southeastern Arkansas. It is located approximately 90 miles south of the state capital, Little Rock. Monticello is a small but vibrant community with a rich history and a welcoming atmosphere. Monticello was established in 1849 and was named after the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. The city has a historic downtown area with well-preserved buildings that reflect its heritage. The economy of Monticello is diverse, with agriculture, education, healthcare, and manufacturing playing key roles. The city is known for its timber industry and is home to several lumber mills. The region surrounding Monticello is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. The area has numerous parks, lakes, and forests, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Monticello is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and camping. Monticello hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including the Monticello Juneteenth Celebration and the Drew County Fair. The city also has a community theater and other cultural attractions. Monticello, Arkansas, offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, making it a great place to live and visit for those who appreciate small-town living and outdoor activities. It's a community with a strong sense of history and a close-knit population. However, many residents don't feel the same way, and that is why we are navigating advocacy this week in Arkansas.
Marquis Martin was a son to Lakisha Williams and a father to Marquis Junior. He was just 26 years old when he went missing from a gas station in Monticello, Arkansas, in February of 2020, so this is a relatively recent case but too long to still be unsolved. Marquis was described as an outgoing man. His mom said he had a heart of gold. Even his young son did an interview with local news and talked about his favorite photo of the two and how he looked up to his dad so much. Marquis worked at Drew Central School District and worked part-time for McDonalds. Marquis was last seen on surveillance at a USA Murphy gas station on February 9th,2020, at 9:21 p.m. Then, he was dropped off at his home in Wilbur, Arkansas, which is about a 9-minute drive down US Highway 278.
Marquis’ mother would receive a text that would make her heart sink. It was a ransom text. It stated that Marquis was hurt badly and that she needed to pay $7000 for his to return. It also said dont contact the police. I am actually going to read what I found out about this text verbatim- “This is to let you know that Mack was kidnapped by myself and my men, and we demand a ransom payment of $7000 before we release him back to you alive. You are warned not to tell anyone or the cops about this, or He dies (he dies is in capital letters). Do not act smart; I am too old for games; if you want this done with peace, I'm cool with it, but if you are calling the cops in, I'm fine too. The cops are no threat to me. And I don't think I need to show you how dangerous I could be by hurting him. Choose wisely. I have my personal reasons for taking this long before contracting his family.” end quote. There is a lot to dissect here. This ransom kidnapper person used Marquis’ nickname, which I find weird, and I lean towards this being someone close to him who sent this. Second, it seems like rambling, and I don't necessarily believe Marquis is alive at this point. The sentence I have my own reasons for not contacting sooner is strange. The I'm too old for games is also an odd thing to say, and it's either young people trying to throw off the family, or it really is an older person that wants this done quickly, which is just a saying they use frequently. $7000 is also strange to me, but I'm an OCD type of person; like why not just say 10k?
Marquis’ mom did contact the police, and nothing came from it at all. This wasn't back in the '80s or '90s when we couldn't trace phones. This was seriously three years ago, and even if it was one of those prepaid phones, I feel like they could have found some type of lead based on this text. A month passed, and on March 7th, Marquis was found dead in a creek in Wilmur, which is where his home was. His cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. He was shot at such a close range the gunshot residue was found on his scalp.
This case takes a turn that is for sure, and not in a good way. Not long after Marquis was found, the family was sent a Snapchat image of a stuffed monkey with a racial slur written. The family believes they can see Marquis under a blanket in that image. I had a hard time seeing what they were seeing. However, I didn't know Marquis. It would come out later that the son of the county sheriff initially sent this. Of course, the family immediately asked this man to step down from his position, and he refused. He told the public that his office had interviewed about 45 people and that they were trying to put the pieces together, but it was tough because they didn't have a crime scene or witnesses or a murder weapon it was difficult.
We know how small towns can be. The rumors are running wild, and many of them have pointed toward the sheriff’s sons and some of their friends as being the people to murder Marquis. The sheriff stated that he knew where those rumors came from, and it was from a fellow employee and a fellow political candidate who ran against him.
In November of 2022, just one year ago, an independent party man named Tim Nichols ran against the former sheriff of Drew County and won. Tim received 41.32% of the votes, while the republican confidant James Slaughter received 34.05% of the votes, and then the current sheriff, Mark Gober, only received 24.63% of the votes. I don't know what to say. Tim won by a landslide, but it wasn't a close race, to say the least.
The family actually had a change. Org petition out there to remove Mark Gober from his position had 48,000 signatures. Their goal was 50,000, but luckily, the family was able to get so close to their goal and get another Sherrif in office.
This new sheriff released a statement about Marquis Martin’s case on February 10th, 2023, pretty quickly after he was settled into his new position. It states I, Sheriff Tim Nickols, along with the 10th Judicial District prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain, have made a formal request to the Arkansas state police criminal Investigation Division to take over the murder investigation of the late Mr. Marquis Martin. I have also been in communication with the FBI about the case. They assured me that they are willing to assist the state police as they can. It is the prayer of this office and that of the people of Drew County that justice and that the family, friends, and community can find peace and receive closure. That is all the updates I have as of now. It is my hope that the Arkansas state police and the FBI are working together to solve Marquis’ murder.
If you have any information about who kidnapped and murdered Marquis Martin, please call Arkansas State Police at 870-226-3713 or the Drew County Sheriff’s Department at 870-367-6211.
You can submit anonymous tips to info@drewcountysheriff.com or the Monticello Police Department’s tip line at 870-723-LEAD (5323).
