Spouse killer is denied parole

Marie Poling and her boyfriend dumped her husband’s body in two areas of western Pennsylvania.

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Marie Poling

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The Ohio Parole Board has refused parole for Marie F. Poling, 51, convicted of killing her husband, Richard, in January 1988.

Her next opportunity for parole will be in five years, February 2015.

The parole board made the decision Wednesday after having a hearing in Columbus.

Poling also was turned down for parole the first time she was eligible in 2005.

Marie Poling was a 29-year-old mother in January 1988 when she shot her husband to death while he slept on the couch of their Niles Road home.

Poling was having an affair with Rafael Garcia Jr. at the time and called upon Garcia and a female friend to help her dispose of the body.

Garcia rented an ax, which was used to cut off Richard Poling’s head, which was placed along with his torso in the trunk of Garcia’s car, said Dennis Watkins, Trumbull County prosecutor.

Garcia and Marie Poling drove to an area west of Pittsburgh off Interstate 79, where they dumped the torso, then left the head in a ravine farther south.

Garcia, 24 at the time of the murder, was sentenced to five to 25 years for aggravated burglary, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice.

He served about 13 years before being paroled in 2001.

Poling was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison but was eligible for parole after serving 171‚Ñ2 because of credit for good behavior while in prison, Watkins said.

She has served 221‚Ñ2 years so far.

“This is very good news for the victim’s family, and it is certainly welcome by this office,” Watkins said of the parole board’s decision.