Man arrested, accused of killing ex-wife in Medina

Farmer: He was arrested in North Toledo.

A man charged with the death of his ex-wife was arrested early yesterday while sleeping in a reputed North Toledo drug house, authorities said.

Marcus D. Farmer, 44, who has addresses in Toledo and the Cleveland-area city of Medina, was arrested on a murder charge shortly before 1 a.m. by members of the Toledo Police Department, the U.S. Marshal's fugitive task force, and law-enforcement officers from Medina city and county, according to a statement issued by Dennis Hanwell, Medina police chief, and information provided by Steve Miller of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities declined to reveal where the arrest was made. Farmer was found sleeping in a house reputed for drug activity in the vicinity of Ash and Ontario streets, Mr. Miller said.

The suspect's ex-wife, Alice M. McDonald, 44, was found dead inside her apartment at 4 p.m. Friday by Medina police, after authorities acting on a tip obtained a search warrant.

Ms. McDonald is believed to have died of a broken neck. No weapon was found. Further details about her death are expected to be revealed by an autopsy, Mr. Miller said.

The search and processing of her apartment lasted well into the night, according to Chief Hanwell's statement.

Farmer is in the Lucas County jail awaiting a court appearance Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, Mr. Miller said.

The statement issued by Mr. Hanwell said Farmer "has an extensive prior criminal history."

Farmer, a convicted felon who previously had been imprisoned on aggravated assault and other charges, had recently been released from the Mansfield Correctional Institution after serving 42 days of a six-month sentence for an undisclosed charge, Mr. Miller said.