Man indicted in murder of ex-brother-in-law, 15

8/3/2001

OTTAWA, Ohio - A Continental, Ohio, man was arrested yesterday after he was indicted in the May 9 death of a 15-year boy, who is the suspect's former brother-in-law, Putnam Coun|ty sheriff's deputies said.

Marvin L. Martin II, 32, was indicted earlier in the day on an aggravated murder charge in the death of Charles Breckler, who was found shot once in the forehead while lying on a couch at his sister's house in Dupont, Ohio.

Sheriff James Beutler said the motive for the shooting appears to stem from a custody dispute between Mr. Martin and his former wife, the slain boy's sister. The couple, now divorced, have a 2-year-old girl.

The murder indictment returned by the county grand jury carries a death penalty specification.

Mr. Martin was arrested near his residence late yesterday without incident.

The sheriff declined to say exactly what led to the shooting death in the early hours of May 9 or why Mr. Martin was believed to be at his ex-wife's residence on that day. "I have strong suspicions why he was there," Sheriff Beutler said. "There were some threats made toward the victim's family.

"There was some problems within the family internally as possibly being a motive. I think a lot of it was over the custody battle between [the suspect] and the ex-wife."

A 22-caliber rifle believed to be the murder weapon was recovered in rural Putnam County during the investigation, the sheriff said.

Mr. Martin also was charged with aggravated menacing. He is accused of firing a shot at Linda Breckler, the victim's mother, at her home on Dec. 26. He is being held without bond in the Allen County jail.