Bonne Terre man arrested in connection to 1989 death of Jimmie Wade Martin
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Wesley Paul Marter, 69, of Bonne Terre has been arrested and is being held at the St. Francois County Jail in connection to the 1989 death of Jimmie Wade Martin. Photo courtesy of the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (MSHPDDCC) issued a news release on Sept. 3 about a case that is nearly 35 years old.
The release states: “The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces the arrest of Wesley P. Marler, 69, of Bonne Terre. Marler was arrested on August 30, 2024, in connection to the 1989 death of Jimmie Wade Martin, of Bonne Terre, MO. The investigation which led to Marler’s arrest was conducted by investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control and the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office.
On October 14, 1989, Jimmie Wade Martin was found mortally wounded in front of a residence, located in Bonne Terre. Martin was later pronounced deceased from his injuries at a Farmington hospital. In December of 2020, members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, along with the St. Francois Sheriff’s Office, began a review of the investigation into Martin’s death. After an exhaustive investigation, the case was presented to the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
On August 22, a St. Francois County Grand Jury indicted Marler with one count of assault in the first degree. On August 30, a warrant was issued for Marler’s arrest. Marler was located the same day and taken into custody by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office. Marler was transported to the St. Francois County Jail where he is being held, with a $500,000.00 bond.
The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”
According to the indictment filed by St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney (SFCPA) Michael Dudley, Marler is currently being charged with one felony count of first degree assault from Oct. 14, 1989 when “the defendant either acting alone or knowingly in concert with another knowingly caused serious physical injury to Confidential Victim by hitting Confidential Victim with a blunt instrument on his head.”
Assistant Attorney General Kevin M. Zoellner has been assigned on Sept. 3 as a special prosecuting attorney on behalf of the State of Missouri to provide assistance to the SFCPA’s office.
Marler has a confined docket hearing scheduled for Sept. 4 before Judge Wendy Horn.
A complete retrospective on the crime and its resurrection from cold-case status will be released in the near future. The Daily Journal will continue to report on this story as updates become available.
Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a staff writer for the Daily Journal. She can be reached by email at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.
