Marquis Martin

26:44He can say what he wants about me, but don't bring my family into it. And he picked the wrong time to make a political jab towards me in the middle of a murder investigation. End quote. So there is this very public media battle at this point with even other members of law enforcement accusing Sheriff Gober of covering for his children. And it only gets worse when in early June 2021, the photo Noah Gober posted shortly after Marquise went missing is enhanced and begins to circulate even further. Because in this enhanced photo, people believe they can see Marquise under the blanket. His aunt, Marilyn Reed, told Desmond Nugent with KATV, quote, it's clearly Marquise Martin's face.

27:28He looks deceased to me in the picture. It's clearly him. We wanted justice after it happened. We wanted justice six months later. Here it is over a year later. We still want justice, end quote. So, they plan to protest for the following week. Members of the community along with Marquise's family gathered at the Drew County Courthouse in a peaceful demonstration to demand action be taken in the case. Even the mayor of Wilmer, Tony Perry, was in attendance. Leading up to the protest, she gave a few very powerful statements. Quote, what happened to Marquise didn't just happen to Marquise. It happened to everybody.

28:07Everybody was in pain behind this. Everybody has mistrust behind this. Everybody wants to see justice for Marquise. We shouldn't be out here in the streets protesting. We should be sitting back, waiting for this thing to go to trial. At this juncture, we still have to protest and let them know that we're not going to stop. End quote. They specifically wanted a federal agency to investigate the case and for Sheriff Gober to recuse himself. For a number of reasons, more so to get Mark Gober to recuse himself from the case. I think it's time for them to bring the federal government in. We want to see his killers behind bars.

28:45You have any type of allegations against you shouldn't be on the same case. When Gabriel Pfeiffer from KTVE News reached out to Sheriff Gober for comment, he said he had no plans of recusing himself from the case because the rumors circulating about his family were completely false. He also claimed that the enhanced image that was circulating was doctor to show Marquise's face. However, I do think it's very worth noting here than in reporting by KARK4 News. They state that a forensic analyst was unable to determine if the image had been doctored or not. Again, we're in a small county of about 17 ,000 people.

29:25When Marquise's body was found, Drew County had the assistance of the Arkansas State Police. So why not call them in when the spotlight is shining on your family, creating a clear conflict of interest? I don't know. But we do know that Sheriff Gober didn't recuse himself from the case. But the community didn't stop demanding it. On February 14, 2022, a petition was created by a concerned member of the community, once again requesting that Sheriff Gober recuse himself in the case. The petition reads, quote, In the small town of Drew County, whispers have grown to screams. I watch as a helpless but hopeful mother still searches for answers concerning her son Marquise Martin's murder, ruled a homicide.

30:10He was kidnapped, tortured, murdered, and was missing for 27 days. Sheriff Mark Gober's son is believed to be the killer by his own admission. The sheriff said his son made a mistake by using derogatory language in the picture he'd previously posted with a large stuffed monkey using the n-word in the caption. In this very picture, what looks like to be a blanket is noticeably wrapped around an object. Well, the mother of Marquise Martin says that object is most definitely her son. As a mother, you just know some things, and she's positive that that little nose belongs to her baby. My point is, Sheriff Gober absolutely refuses to withdraw from this case, that he and his son and his son's friends, who are also the kids of other law enforcement slash officials of this town, are being implicated in.

30:59If he truly thinks his son is innocent and has handled this case genuinely, then why won't he just step down and give the mother her only request? One crazy twist to this story is the day Marquise's body was found, Sheriff Gober was the first on the scene. That's not out of the ordinary, I guess. But the part that is relevant is that the family of Martin stated that they had already covered that area. To add insult to injury, the mom was contacted by a family friend that her son's body had been recovered during an active search. I'm mortified. Please help her.

31:40While this petition didn't result in Sheriff Gober recusing himself in the case, and I couldn't independently verify what was being said in that petition, I think it's a powerful statement showing how a lot of people in this community felt. Then, less than two months after this petition was created, the rumors began to swirl again when Ben Loveless is arrested. And we're live on Matchday as Doug reaches for a buffalo wing. He's got it! Oh, and he's gone for a can of Pepsi, too! What a finish! There's no doubt about it. It just tastes better. Matchdays deserve Pepsi. Introducing Taco Bell's new jalapeno citrus salsa.

32:22With bright citrus, real red jalapenos, guajillo chiles. Usually, you add sauce to the food, but when the sauce is this good, the food is just there to get the sauce to your mouth. That rolled quesadilla? Not a rolled quesadilla anymore. Now it's a sauce shovel. Taco Bell's jalapeno citrus salsa. Get it with any item on the cantina chicken menu while it's here. The participating U.S. Taco Bell locations for a limited time only. While supplies last, contact store for availability. According to reporting by Joe Burgess for Monticello Live, at around 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022, Sheriff Gober responded to a 911 call from a woman who said that Ben Loveless poured gasoline on her and threatened to set her on fire.

33:07When Sheriff Gober and other officers got to the scene, the door was open, but no one was inside the residence. Instead, they found the woman inside of Ben's truck, which was stuck in the woods. She had bruising on her right eye that she said was from Ben. She also told them that he choked her until she became unconscious, poured gasoline on her, and tried to set her on fire. Then she ran to the bathroom and called police. And inside the bathroom, they could see that the shower curtain had been recently set on fire. But they did apprehend Ben Loveless, and he was charged with domestic battery second degree and violation of a protection order on a second offense.

33:49And it seems that Ben Loveless just can't seem to stay out of trouble, because according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office jail roster on June 5, 2026, he was arrested on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and terroristic threatening in the first degree. As of this recording, he has not been named a suspect or person of interest in the murder of Marquise Martin, but I have to hold out hope that Marquise's murder will be more thoroughly investigated in the future, because Sheriff Mark Gober lost his election in 2022 to a man named Tim Nichols, and Nichols did formally request that the Arkansas State Police take over the investigation.

34:29When he was first elected, Nichols told KARK4 News that Marquise's case deserves an investigation from a department that has the resources to do that. He also says that the FBI has assured him that they will assist in the investigation in any way that they can, but it doesn't appear that his request was honored. In early 2026, he released the following update. Quote, Over the last three years in office, my staff and I have conducted many operations, interviews, and follow-ups on the homicide investigation in reference to Marquise Martin. However, no substantial evidence has been developed throughout the various operations.

35:08We have even tried getting further forensic evidence examinations done, but the labs in other states such as Texas stated that the results would not detect anything different. When taking office, I requested that the Arkansas State Police take over as primary, but that was denied by them due to the time that had passed. However, we have worked closely with them and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But unfortunately, the case has not developed any further evidence, which would result in an arrest or prosecution. With all of that being said, I want to ensure you that we are not done, and have some cell tower information in which we are sending to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Quantico, Virginia, for further analysis.

35:49This case has been built up on rumors and speculations throughout the years, even prior to taking office, and even since then. I want to express that while we want nothing more than to solve this case and bring justice to light, we cannot build a case on rumors and speculation. We must have facts. While I have my own personal beliefs on the case, those personal beliefs are not facts. Our system is built on the Constitution, and rules of law in which we must abide. So please, if you have information, you can submit a tip on the APP and we will follow up on it. The fact is someone out there in our communities or in our prison system is responsible for this homicide and we want to bring them to justice.

36:30If we are not able to bring justice to this case while here on earth, I know judgment will be cast and justice will be served in eternity. Sheriff Tim Nichols. End quote. And that's pretty much where the case is today. I have to hope that Marquise's family will get some answers with these new investigative measures. But of course, the question remains, what happened to Marquise Martin? Well, one theory is that Marquise encountered someone he knew after leaving McDonald's that night. Publicly, there are still questions about whether Marquise ever made it home, who may have seen him after the Murphy USA surveillance footage, and whether the co-worker who reportedly gave him a ride home had the full story.

37:17Now, to be clear, that co-worker has not been publicly named as a suspect. They're not even publicly named in the media, and I'm not accusing them of anything, but the uncertainty around Marquise's final moments is one of the biggest gaps in this case that we can't ignore. Of course, another theory is that the ransom text was connected to whoever harmed Marquise. The fact that the sender reportedly used Marquise's nickname makes that feel possible. But we've seen it before, you guys. It's also possible that the text was a cruel hoax sent by someone who knew Marquise was missing and wanted to exploit the situation.

37:53Of course, this remains another unanswered, very important question in this case. Of course, we have the theory surrounding the Snapchat image. Marquise's family has questioned whether the photo could be connected to his death, especially after they saw the enhanced version and believed that they could see Marquise under a blanket. Sheriff Gober says that the image has been altered and that his son has apologized for posting it, but the family has never accepted that as a sufficient explanation. And there's still a lot that's missing here. We don't have an official confirmation from an expert saying that that was a real image or a doctored one.

38:29We also don't know if they even tried to get the records from Snapchat, Whether investigators determined where the photo was taken, or if the photo was conclusively ruled in or out as evidence. There's also the broader concern that Marquise's case was mishandled from the beginning. It's not a theory about who killed him, but it's central to why this case has remained so painful and controversial. Marquise's family and supporters have questioned whether bias, small-town politics, conflicts of interest, or a lack of resources affected the investigation. And then, there's the disturbing history of Drew County, which I have not touched on yet.

39:09During Reconstruction, the Ku Klux Klan was active there, and voter intimidation became so severe that Arkansas' governor declared martial law in Drew County in 1868. The Equal Justice Initiative documents eight black victims of racial terror lynching in Drew County between 1877 and 1950. And in the 1920s, the Klan wasn't just on the fringes of Monticello. Historians have documented Klan members holding positions inside of city and county government, including the mayor, city council members, city marshal, sheriff, and other courthouse offices. In 1921, a black man named Philip Slater was lynched in Monticello's public square after being accused of assaulting a white woman in Wilmer.

39:55That kind of history matters here. Not because it explains what happened to Marquise, but because it helps explain why fear and distrust run so deep when a young black man is killed and the investigation is surrounded by rumors of racism, power, and protection. I think it's very worth mentioning here that in this love triangle, if you will, again, it's a rumor, that between Marquise, Amanda, Ben, and Noah, Marquise is the only black person and the rest are white. And this isn't a distant history. In 2015, Monticello Live reported that a Klan rally was held northeast of Monticello, where robed members burned a large cross.

40:35Then in 2017, community members in Monticello publicly denounced another Klan gathering planned for Drew County. This was a three-day rally or retreat scheduled on private property, and there was a letter that was sent to the Drew County Sheriff, Mark Gober, saying that it would end with a cross burning. Around that same time, a local Black family reported finding a noose hanging inside of one of their buildings. And when that 2015 Klan rally became public, Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober did not publicly condemn the group in reporting that I found. Instead, Monticello Live reported that he met with concerned Wilmer residents and asked locals to not go sightseeing near the rally area.

41:17Two years later, when another three-day Klan gathering was planned in Drew County, Local reporting shows that the Klan leader sent a letter directly to Sheriff Gober notifying him of the event. But again, I did not find a direct public statement from Gober about that 2017 rally. So when people in Drew County talk about racism, fear, and distrust of local institutions, this isn't just about something that happened generations ago. The history is old, but it had very recent echoes. And it's worth noting that Marquise's family has had to endure rumors, calls, messages, and horrifying claims about what happened to him.

41:54Some people say he was kidnapped. Some say he was tortured. Some repeated graphic rumors about him being hung from a tree. Others claimed people connected to local power structures knew even more than they were saying. Now, I can't in good faith repeat those rumors as facts. But I do think it's important to acknowledge this history and the rumors Marquise's family has endured. Every rumor created another possible lead, another source of fear, another reason to wonder if someone in the community knew the truth and was staying silent. And when official answers are scarce, rumors fill that silence.

42:37But this family is not giving up. Marquise's mother is very active on social media. She posts screenshots of the messages she gets about these rumors. She goes live discussing them. And she continues to fight for justice. And Marquise's aunt, Marilyn Reed, spoke with ABC7 News to say, quote, As long as there is a tomorrow, as long as there is another moment, another minute, another day, we're going to hope. End quote. Which brings me right to our call to action. Please share Marquise's case. No matter what you think happened to him, it seems pretty clear that there are many investigative steps that were missed early in this investigation, and a brighter light needs to be shown on that to help prevent this from happening again.

43:25Also, if you're listening to this episode as soon as it comes out, you may have even more reason to share. Sheriff of Drew County, Tim Nichols, is up for re-election, and I went to his Facebook page. he doesn't have a single post about Marquise Martin, who he himself said is the only unsolved homicide in Drew County. That tells me that Marquise's case may not be a priority for him as he's running for re-election, but maybe some media pressure might help change that. And if none of that compels you to share Marquise's case, I'll ask you to share for his son, MJ, who has now started speaking out about his father in the media.

44:04It's a burden that no child should have to bear. So please take a moment to share this case in hopes that his family get the answers they've waited far too long for.

44:21As a reminder, 26-year-old Marquise Martin was last seen on February 9, 2020 in Monticello or Wilmer, Arkansas. His body was later recovered from a creek in Willmar. He was black, 5 '10", and weighed approximately 160 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Drew County Sheriff's Office at 870-367-6211. But, as always, thank you, I love you, and I'll talk to you next time.

44:59Voices for Justice is hosted and produced by me, Sarah Turney, and is a Voices for Justice Media Original. This episode contains writing and research assistance by Jessica Quaz. If you love what we do here, please don't forget to follow, rate, and review the show on your podcast player. It's an easy and free way to help us and help more people find these cases in need of justice.

45:26Thank you.

46:06Welcome to the Secret After Show. The studio door is open and our emotional support puppies, Popcorn and Heber, are in the room. Let's go right into this case. The first thing I have on my list is how hard it was to make this episode knowing that there may be a good reason to not trust Sheriff Gober. That is a personal opinion, and of course, like you saw throughout the episode, I did still include his statements. I did not omit them because of my own personal feelings. That didn't feel fair to Marquise. But I will say, it kind of felt like reading a book with an unreliable narrator, if that makes sense.

46:51Because I think in any case where there's somebody at the top of law enforcement, right, the sheriff, and his sons are directly being accused of murdering somebody in a case that he's investigating, that is a clear conflict of interest. so personally i do think that he should have recused himself in the best interest of the case and not only that but because as the new sheriff said tim nichols he didn't think that their smaller county had the resources to work it effectively so i don't know that was hard i really did struggle with like how much of the rumors do i present in this case right because you guys know i take reporting on these cases very seriously and i that's why i said like 5 000 Sometimes I was like, this is a rumor, just to be clear, this is a rumor, because I never want to present something as a fact if I have not been able to independently verify that.

47:47But again, like I said, since we had Sheriff Gober, and I'll just say who I think is Tim Nichols, right? I really tried to track down the source of the quote. So the quote that Sheriff Gober mentioned in that article was not attributed to anybody but a political opponent. And when I started searching for it, I wasn't able to find it. But I will say the other person that was up against Gober and Nichols was this guy named Slaughter, which is like so weird, right? And he basically didn't start running until after that article came out. So I'm like 99 % sure that that quote, basically calling out Sheriff Gober, came from Tim Nichols.

48:29But I cannot say that as a fact, and I will not say that as a fact until I know for sure. So in short, I take these things very seriously, right? But when we have somebody running for sheriff, and we have the sitting sheriff addressing these rumors, I don't know how to tell you this story without telling you what those rumors are. So I hope that made sense. I hope you were able to distinguish fact from rumor when and I feel seemingly obnoxious about it. But again, that is such a crucial part to Marquise's case that felt irresponsible to leave out. But let's go on to media discrepancies. There were, you guys, I found quite a few.

49:10Did Marquise ever make it home? Some articles don't even mention him getting a ride home. One says he never made it home altogether. But we do have that statement from the sheriff saying that, you know, they have a witness who says that they gave him a ride. But I will say that overall, there's not a ton of media coverage in this case. And most articles do seem to report the same thing over and over again. And I mean, while we're here, right, shout out to Desmond. To Desmond Nugent with KATV, who I saw recently left the station. But I just want to give a little shout out because he very, very thoroughly followed this case.

49:47It was almost like every other article I found was from him. so just a shout out i love these reporters who like stick with the case um it's just really good to see but um that does bring me into our hero of this episode um and i have a few one is the mayor tony perry i mean she was another reason why i decided to go forward telling you guys about those rumors right because she went to the protest she's like something's not right You know, the community is rightfully upset about this, and I just, I love a politician who sticks with their community, goes to a protest, and just has their voice heard.

50:25I love that. Of course, I also have to name Marquise's mother Lakeisha. She is the driving force in this case. She really seems to be the one who's, like, pushing to get any media coverage she can. And of course, to not be afraid to speak out against that sheriff, which I can tell you can be terrifying. And I mean, really, shout out to this community for rallying around them. I mean, people were speaking up to the news, they were creating petitions, they were speaking out. This is a small, what appears to be, I know it sounds so cliche, right? But it appears to be a very tight-knit community, right?

50:58We have 17 ,000 residents, and people were upset. I mean, you guys, reading the quotes about the kids missing him was heartbreaking. Every person should get an overwhelming, amazing response when they go missing. Marquise was a beloved teacher's assistant in this community, and as far as I could tell, they did almost nothing for him. So shout out to all the people who actually did. Even though it wasn't their job, I'll just say that. But let's go into our segment of hope. This is from People Magazine from June 30th, 2026, and the title reads, 26-year-long investigation solved as human remains found at National Park, identified as man who disappeared in 1998.

51:51So it looks like human remains were found in Olympic National Park in 2000 and recently identified as Joseph Louis Serao Jr. Serao was born in Hawaii and went missing in Washington in 1998. DNA testing and collaboration with relatives helped solve the nearly 30-year-old mystery bringing closure to his family. The article goes on to read, In July 2000, a researcher told local authorities that they had discovered human remains inside of a sleeping bag in a tent in a remote area. Those remains were sent to the King County Medical Examiner's Office, who determined that they belonged to a man aged between 30 and 50, who died between six months and four years prior.

52:33It looks like they took items from the tent, they tried to get fingerprints, latent fingerprints, but they couldn't really lift any. So the case sits until 2024, when a forensic anthropologist submitted a DNA sample from them to Othram. Again, we have Othram making another solve. And the testing analyzed a broad range of DNA markers to identify potential relatives and generate investigative leads. He was positively identified in 2025, but for some reason it looks like the story's just coming out now. And while this article doesn't outline it, it does look like the family got answers. because there's no active looking for anything.

53:12If you have information, we're gonna, you know, please call here. We just know that they are calling the case solved because he has finally been identified, which of course still makes our segment of hope. I don't think we necessarily need to know what happened to this man as long as the family is satisfied and we know that there's no ongoing investigation, no cause for the public to be worried. But of course, this makes our segment of hope because after decades, this family has some answers. But as always, thank you, I love you, and I'll talk to you next time. Insurance isn't one size fits all.

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