Guilty second-degree-murder pleas likely for Scott Kimball -- but Jennifer Marcum remains missing

Accused murderer Scott Kimball, who's expected to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree murder at a proceeding tomorrow, plays a significant role in "Strip Search," a 2006 Luke Turf article about Jennifer Marcum, a former Shotgun Willie's employee then missing for more than three years. She'd landed at his...

By Michael Roberts

October 7, 2009

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Accused murderer Scott Kimball, who's expected to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree murder at a proceeding tomorrow, plays a significant role in "Strip Search," a 2006 Luke Turf article about Jennifer Marcum, a former Shotgun Willie's employee then missing for more than three years. She'd landed at his apartment in 2003 shortly before she stopped returning her parents' calls, naturally raising suspicions. But Kimball, who was already in prison at the time of the piece's publication, declined a request by Westword to put them to rest.

Kimball's talked about Marcum since then -- to investigators looking for her and three additional missing people. But while the remains of the others have been located, Marcum's body still hasn't been found, and an arrest affidavit reportedly accuses Kimball of misleading authorities in the matter. Even if Kimball accepts responsibility for the latest charges against him on Thursday, then, the search for Marcum will go on.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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