FULL TEXT: Wildersville – Services for Dwight Rush, 34, were
today at Reed’s Chapel funeral home in Lexington. Burial was in Parker’s
Crossroads Cemetery.
Mr. Rush was found dead of stab wounds Saturday [May 25] at
his midtown Memphis home.
His wife, Mary Louise Rush, 26, of Memphis Police Department’s
violent crimes division. Brown said the stabbing resulted from an argument that
began Friday night.
Mr. Rush was a native of Henderson County but had lived the
past several years in Memphis.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Mary Sue Rush of Lexington; a
sister, Mrs. Jean Chilcote of Lexington; and a brother, Harold Rush of
Wilderville.
[Obituary: Dwight Rush, The Jackson Sun (Tn.), May 28, 1985,
P. 16
***
FULL TEXT: Funeral services for Charles D. Martin, 38, of
Holly Springs were held at 11 a. m., Friday, May 9, at Newsom Funeral Home in
Charleston with burial in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Martin was found stabbed to death in the bedroom of his
home Wednesday, May 7, near Byhalia. Police reports that Mr. Martin had been
dead since early Monday morning. The report indicated that Mr. Martin had been
attacked with a large, sharp instrument in the chest.
His wife, Mary Lou Martin, 27, was arrested and charged with
the murder and was being held without bond last Thursday in the Marshall County
Jail.
Mr. Marshall and his wife were married in the Teasdale area
about two months ago.
He also leaves a daughter, Miss Stacy Virginia, and two
sons, Charles Martin Jr. and Jason Martin, all of Glenrock, Wyo.; and two
sisters, Mrs. Virginia Carpenter of Charleston and Mrs. Peggy Naulr of Memphis.
[Obituary: Charles D. Martin, The Sun-Sentinel (Charleston,
Ma.), May 15, 1986, p. 6]
***
FULL TEXT: Holly Springs, Miss. – A woman convicted of
stabbing two husbands to death in less than a year has received a 20-year
prison sentence for manslaughter in the latest slaying.
Circuit Judge W. W. Brown gave Mary Lou Martin, 28, the
maximum sentence for manslaughter Friday in the 1986 death of her husband,
Charles Martin of Byhalia.
District Attorney Larry Little said the sentence was stiff
because “that was the second husband she killed.”
Authorities found Martin’s body on May 7, 1986, in the
bedroom of the couple’s home. Martin 38, who died of stab wounds to the chest,
was believed to have been dead several days.
Mrs. Martin, charged originally with murder, pleaded guilty
Tuesday to a reduced charge of manslaughter. According to authorities, the
killing occurred after a heated argument.
Just a year earlier, Mrs. Martin had been married to Dwight
Rush of Memphis, ten. According to court records, Rush was stabbed to death May
25, 1985, and his wife pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter last March.
A Shelby County, Tenn., judge gave her a two-year prison sentenced
that was suspended. She also was placed on probation for five years.
Mrs. Martin, who was on probation in Tennessee, was indicted
for murder by a Mississippi grand jury five days after Martin’s death. On June
30, 1986, her probation was revoked in Tennessee sand she was returned to custody
here.
She spent nine months in a Memphis jail before waiving
extradition and was returned to Holly Springs for trial in the latest slaying,
Little said.
[“Woman gets 20 years for killing 2 husbands,” The Bismark
Tribune (N. D.), May 31, 1987, p. 8A]
***
FULL TEXT: Holly Springs, Miss. – A woman convicted of stabbing two husbands to death in less than a year has received a 20-year prison sentence for manslaughter in the latest slaying.
Circuit Judge W.W. Brown gave Mary Lou Martin, 28, the maximum sentence for manslaughter Friday in the 1986 death of her husband, Charles Martin of Byhalla.
Authorities found Martin’s body on May 7, 1986, in the bedroom of the couple’s home. Martin, 38, died of stab wounds to the chest.
The Martin woman, charged originally with murder, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of manslaughter. According to authorities, the killing occurred after a heated argument.
Just a year earlier, she had been married to Dwight Rush of Memphis, Tenn. According to authorities, the killing occurred after a heated argument.
A Shelby county, Tenn., judge gave her a two-year prison sentence that was suspended. She also was placed on probation for five years.
[“Woman sentenced for killing second husband,” Sunday Tribune (Lewiston, Id.), May 31, 1987, p. 2A]
***
CHRONOLOGY
May 25, 1985 – Dwight Rush, Memphis. Tenn.
Mar. 11, 1985 – Mary Lou sentenced to 2 years, suspended; 5
years probation.
Mar. 1986 – Mary Lou marries Charles Martin.
May 5, 1986 – Charles Martin (36) killed; Byhalia, Miss.
May 7, 1986 – Charles Martin (36) body discovered.
May 8, 1986 – Mary Lou arrested, held without bond, Marshall
County Jail.
May 12, 1986 – Mary Lou Martin (27) indicted in Miss. on
murder charge.
Jun. 30, 1986 – probation revoked; 9 months in jail in Tenn.
Before being returned to Miss.
Oct. 27, 1987 – Pleads guilty to a lesser charge, manslaughter.
Oct.30, 1987 – Sentenced to 20 years. Holl
***
For links to other cases of woman who murdered 2 or more husbands (or paramours), see Black Widow Serial Killers.
***
[577-7/24/20]
***
Wow, heart wrenching to come across this article while surfing the web. Mary Lou is my mother. Everything stated here is 100% true.
ReplyDeleteI believe she was my aunt. I had heard this story as a child from my mom, her sister but I always thought it could be wrong. The only way I could connect this case with her was the name and the locations. Memphis and Byhalia. My mom is from Byhalia and I was born in Memphis. I would love to connect with you and talk if this is my cousin "Cricket" if my memory serves me??
DeleteIs she still in jail?
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have two brothers. I hope you locate them.
I do have 2 missing brothers but my brothers are not mentioned in this article. How did you know this?
DeleteMr. Martin's obit listed his children's names.
DeleteCould the author of this site please reach out to me?
ReplyDeleteI think you are my cousin. Your mother is my aunt. My mom was JoAnn Waldrip. I believe your nickname was "Cricket" as a child but it's been so long, I could be Very wrong. I would love to connect but I doubt you'll ever see this.
ReplyDelete