Watkins again opposing parole for Marie Poling

WARREN

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins is again opposing parole for Marie F. Poling, convicted of killing her husband, Richard, in January 1988 in their Howland home.

Poling, 55, was refused the first two times she was eligible — in 2005 and 2010. She is eligible for parole again in December.

Marie Poling was a 29-year-old mother of three 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, Watkins said.

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.

Read more about the case in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.