Markum convicted of torching houses

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

B. MARKUM

A man who ruined Christmas for a pair of Smartt Station families two years ago will likely spend this Christmas in jail after he was convicted last week for a pair of smash-and-burn burglaries.

The defendant, Dorris Lee Markum, 30, was found guilty following a jury trial on two counts of arson, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of theft, and one count of vandalism. He will be sentenced Oct. 13. The top charges of arson carry eight to 12 years behind bars.

Markum along with his wife, Beth Markum, were arrested just before Christmas 2002 after Mr. Markum broke into two houses on Loss Crouch Road. Lawmen say Markum burglarized the homes and then tried to set them on fire to cover his crime.

One house suffered significant damage when Markum set a fire by placing paper on the eyes of a stove and turning on the stove as he fled. The second residence, doused in kerosene, did not suffer as severe damage.

Mrs. Markum was caught as firemen were battling the blazes. She was found passed out near her van which became stuck when she tried fleeing the area after her husband had burglarized a vehicle. Mrs. Markum, who drove the get-away vehicle, was reportedly drunk. She was sentenced to an 11-29 probationary term for her part in the crime, since she did not actually commit the break-ins or arsons. Mr. Markum was caught minutes later, hiding nearby in a wooded area.