Marcus Marymont

Background

Marcus Marymont was the husband of Mary Helen Marymont. He served as a Master Sergeant. Mary Helen Marymont was 43 years old.

The offence

Mary Helen Marymont collapsed after attending a luncheon in Kings Lynn and later died despite all efforts to save her. Doctors suspected poison, and the authorities carried out investigations.

Investigation

On 9th June 1958, Mary Helen Marymont was admitted in a critical condition to the hospital on the air base at Sculthorpe, near Fakenham in Norfolk.

Doctors told Marcus Marymont, then 37 years old, that they suspected poison and that there would have to be a post mortem. He initially agreed to this but later withdrew his consent. Marymont’s objections to a post mortem were overruled, and the pathological indications were that the dead woman had ingested arsenic about 24 hours before she collapsed.

The authorities were already suspicious and continuing their investigations. They discovered that Marcus Marymont had been having an affair with 23-year-old Cynthia Taylor. Cynthia Taylor had been met in a night-club in Maidenhead. Cynthia Taylor was a married woman who was separated from her husband. Marcus Marymont had told her that he was married but that his wife and children were living in the States.

The authorities also found out that Marcus Marymont had tried to buy arsenic from a chemist's in Maidenhead. They found that he had asked two civilian cleaners at the base where he could obtain arsenic from.

Trial

Marcus Marymont denied administering arsenic to his wife when he appeared before a US General Court Martial at Denham, Bucks, in 1958.

He was found guilty of murder and of misconduct with Cynthia Taylor.

Sentencing

In 1958, Marcus Marymont was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Outcome

Marcus Marymont was taken back to Fort Leavenworth Prison, Kansas, to serve his sentence.

Other details

Marcus Marymont’s husband was informed that his wife was dying and expressed no particular concern over her sudden illness.