A parole hearing for a man accused of arranging his wife’s murder is approaching. The murder was depicted in both a book entitled Blind Faith and a television movie of the same name, with actress Joanna Kerns starring as the victim, Maria Marshall.
According to the Associated Press, Robert Marshall was convicted in the 1984 murder of his wife, Maria Marshall in 1986 and had been on death row until his sentence was overturned. Robert had previously attempted to have his sentence reduced due to poor health, but was denied.
Recently, it was reported that a Louisiana inmate who had been found not guilty of being the triggerman confessed to the murder. He can’t be retried due to double jeopardy laws.
The Asbury Park Press reports this is the first time Marshall is up for parole and that comments from the public would be taken until Wednesday to the New Jersey parole board.
Joseph Coronato, the prosecutor for Ocean County, felt Marshall should not get parole.
When his wife was murdered, Marshall was deep in debt and cheating on Maria Marshall. He apparently stood to collect a $1.5 million dollar life insurance policy when she died. The murder had been made to look like a robbery.
Two other co-conspirators in the murder plot have been released from prison.