Domestic Homicide Case Has Enough Evidence to Go to Trial, Judge Rules

By Jay McDonald [former] - May 4, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a domestic homicide case has enough evidence to go to trial, ordering that the defendant remain detained at DC Jail as he awaits his next court date.

Marcus Isom is accused of stabbing his uncle, 67-year-old Michael Stover, to death in a home on the 500 block of 55th Street, NE, on Jan. 3. He is charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Isom’s preliminary hearing began on May 5 with the lead detective on the case describing the events leading up to the homicide.

The victim and defendant got into an argument when Isom, 42, accused Stover of stealing money from him during a New Year’s Eve party, according to court documents. Eventually, Stover stopped entertaining the conversation and laid on the bed face-up. A witness who was in the room at the time alleges that this is when Isom stabbed the victim in the abdomen. Isom allegedly told the witness to sit down, threatening to hurt her next.

The witness said she refused to call the police while the defendant was in the room in an effort to protect herself. She did not see the knife.

Defense attorney Jason Clark argued that the eyewitness’ story had too many holes and is not credible enough. 

“The witness’s ability to obtain evidence is questionable,” he said.

The witness said they were smoking marijuana at the time. She also has short-term memory loss and cannot see far away.

Clark said the witness’s formerly intimate relationship with Stover created bias. During interviews with the police, the witness called Isom weird for trying to talk to her knowing she was involved with his uncle.

The prosecutor argued that Judge Robert Okun should find probable cause.

“When the decedent was stabbed, he was laying in his bed with his hands behind his back,” she said. “This was an act of violence and eyewitness testimony corroborates with the evidence.”

Judge Okun found probable cause, saying the witness’ information was corroborative and there is no evidence of self-defense. He ruled that Isom should remain detained based on his arrest history, the nature of the offense and the weight of the evidence. 

A felony status conference is scheduled for July 13.