Trumbull prosecutor opposes parole for killer Marie Poling

By Ed Runyan | November 22, 2014 at 12:08a.m.

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.

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 171/2 years because of credit for good behavior while in prison, Watkins said. She has served 271/2 years so far.

Watkins said in a letter to the parole board that Poling “is too young and dangerous to put back into society.”

He said Poling is among many inmates who try to “con the [parole board] into believing they are rehabilitated and paid their time, when in fact they have no real remorse and could care less about the victim.”

Watkins said Poling “put on one heck of an acting performance” at her trial, crying and lying throughout.

Poling shot her husband in the head at point-blank range as he slept and told a friend she could commit the “perfect murder,” Watkins said.

Garcia testified that he cut Richard Poling’s head off at Marie Poling’s instructions in the Polings’ basement.