Episode 38: MURDERED: Marquis Martin - Wilmar, AR

A missing young man, a ransom text, a disturbing Snapchat, violent rumors, and tons of possible police corruption. What really happened to 26-year-old Marquis Martin?

Episode Summary

Marquis Martin was born on August 5, 1993, in Monticello, Arkansas. Known as “Mack,” he was described as kind, outgoing, deeply faithful, and someone who went out of his way to make others smile. He was a paraprofessional at Drew Central Elementary School through the Drew County Consortium, supporting special needs children who adored him, and a devoted father to his young son, whom he “cherished with his soul.”

On the night of February 9, 2020, Marquis left his shift at McDonald’s with a coworker and was dropped off at a Murphy gas station in Monticello due to car trouble. Surveillance shows Marquis walking away at 9:21 p.m. The coworker later claimed he dropped Marquis off at his home in Wilmar. That was the last confirmed sighting of Marquis alive. When Marquis didn’t show up for work the following days, his mother, Lakisha, attempted to report him missing but was told to wait 48 hours. He was officially reported missing on February 11. That same day, a disturbing Snapchat photo surfaced from the sheriff’s family camper containing a racial slur. The sheriff acknowledged his son posted the image but denied any connection to Marquis. Lakisha firmly believes the image depicts her son. While the photo’s authenticity remains disputed, it added to growing concern and mistrust within the community.

On February 12, Lakisha received a ransom-style text message claiming Marquis had been kidnapped and demanding $7,000. Despite turning the message over to law enforcement, Lakisha reports repeated difficulty getting responses or updates. Twenty-seven days after he disappeared, on March 7, 2020, Marquis’s body was found in a creek in Wilmar. The coroner ruled his death a close-range gunshot wound to the back of the head and claimed his body had been in the water for nearly the entire time he was missing, despite reported gunshot residue and blood spatter findings that raised serious questions.

Over time, rumors spread rapidly, many of them horrific, while official information remained limited and inconsistent. Local speculation, allegations of conflicts of interest, questionable investigative decisions, and repeated appearances of the same names have surrounded this case from the beginning.

If you have any information related to the disappearance or murder of Marquis “Mack” Martin, please contact:

• Arkansas State Police: 870-226-3713

• Drew County Sheriff’s Department: 870-367-6211

• Crime Stoppers: 501-340-8477

Marquis’ family continues to fight for truth, accountability, and justice. If you are able, please help by:

• Sharing Marquis’ story to keep his name and case visible

• Encouraging transparency and accountability from local officials

• Supporting the Martin family and their ongoing efforts to seek answers

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