HAMILTON -- Dennis A. Marcum knew both of the Hamilton men he is accused of stabbing to death in a three-day span.
One victim, 64-year-old Melvin Powell of North D Street, lived next door to a duplex where two of Mr. Marcum's brothers live, and two doors from a house where Mr. Marcum had once lived with his parents.
Mr. Marcum was a friend of the second victim, 33-year-old James Petree of Starr Avenue, a few blocks from North D Street, according to a neighbor, Scott Allmon, 18.
Mr. Marcum, 38, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
He is accused of stabbing Mr. Powell in the heart July 22 and then setting the house on fire to conceal the body. Three days later, Mr. Petree was found stabbed to death in his home.
On Wednesday, Hamilton Municipal Court Judge John Rosmarin ordered Mr. Marcum, who lives with his parents in Morgan Township, to be held in the Butler County Jail with no bond.
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The judge will decide at a hearing Aug. 13 whether to send the case to a Butler County grand jury.
Two weeks before Mr. Petree's slaying, Mr. Allmon said in an interview, Mr. Petree told him Mr. Marcum had stolen $135 and a coin collection from him. "Jim told Dennis not to ever come back here," Mr. Allmon said.
Members of the Marcum family declined to speak about the case Wednesday.
Over the past 18 years, Mr. Marcum has been in and out of prisons, according to court records:
In January 1994, he was convicted of breaking and entering, safecracking and grand theft. He was sentenced to two years in prison.
In August 1993, he was convicted of breaking and entering and safecracking. He was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison.
In January 1982, he was convicted of two counts of aggravated burglary, receiving stolen property and carrying a concealed weapon. His sentence was 6-35 years in prison.
In January 1980, he was convicted of breaking and entering and was sentenced to 1-5 years in prison.
Mr. Marcum received Social Security disability payments, according to his arrest report. He has numerous tattoos and, because of his stocky physique, earned the nickname "Fireplug," the arrest report says.
Shawna Andrews, 38, who lives in the 900 block of North D Street, said Mr. Marcum often was around to visit his two brothers.
She said she was surprised he was arrested for Mr. Powell's murder. "I really didn't think it was anybody connected with the neighborhood," she said. "I thought it was a random thing."
Vernon Hall, 72, who lives next door to Mr. Marcum's parents' Bell Road house, said he'd had at least two conversations with Mr. Marcum. The Marcums moved into the white wood-frame house about a year ago, he said.
Mr. Marcum was a talented woodworker who made gun cabinets and built the wooden railing on the front porch of his parents' house, Mr. Hall said.
"He seemed like a real nice person," he said. "You'll never see people nicer than his parents are."
A Hamilton police detective left the Marcums' house Wednesday with four paper bags containing unidentified items.
Mr. Allmon said Mr. Petree received disability payments because of epilepsy and injuries sustained several years ago in a 58-foot fall from a catwalk.
"The guy never bothered anybody," he said. "This really hit me, because I know the victim and the (accused) killer. Jim was a good friend.
"I just hope it's the right person the police have, and, if it is, I hope he gets what he deserves."
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