Stabbing was self-defense; man ID'd
Police believe the stabbing was the result of a domestic dispute
September 28, 2009Fort Wayne Police said the fatal stabbing of a city man at 4 a.m. Saturday by a woman he knew was inflicted in self-defense, although ruled the city's 16th homicide.
The woman, who had been taken into custody after police said she stabbed 30-year-old Mardale Totten in the neck at an apartment at 708 Oaklawn Court, in Chapel Oaks complex, was interviewed, then released without being charged, according to Office Roy Sutphin of the Fort Wayne Police Department.
“We don't release people when we know they killed somebody,” said Sutphin. “And we just don't release people who could be a danger to the public.”
After interviewing several witnesses and the woman, Sutphin said police believe the stabbing was the result of a domestic dispute between Totten, who has a prison record for violence, and the woman. What the domestic dispute exactly entailed, Sutphin would not comment.
“The investigation is ongoing, but for the moment, until proven otherwise, we're going on the aspect that it was along the lines of self-defense,” Sutphin said.
Totten's death was ruled the city's 16th homicide of 2009 by the Allen County Coroner's Office.
On Saturday, police responding to the Oaklawn Court address found Totten unconscious and bleeding. He was treated at the scene before being rushed to a local hospital, where he later died.
Sutphin said that because the woman has not been charged with any crime, police are not required to release her name.
When Totten was 18, he was convicted of stabbing his uncle, Marquas K. Smith, to death in 1997. He served 10 years of a 15-year sentence for aggravated battery before being released in 2008, according to the Indiana Department of Corrections.
7 comments:
Even tho he had a record for violence them charges he had was him defending his self!! He served time like a man It seem like they saying he deserved it!! He was a father a brother a son a uncle and had turned his life around, We as man argue with are kids mom no matter the raise or record we have!!! They left him outside to die,He had a son not even one at the time. mardale was a great dad to his son And had pride as a man which probley what started the argument then the police get whiteness that are all related to the murderer so of course they came up with a self defense story wtf is justice did it get killed as well so we take law into our own hands if so set free the others charged with murder who felt threatened and wanted to protect there self sutphin u peace of shit what if that happened to your family would u let that person go hmm I doubt it revenge is mine said the Lord so you all have sinned rip to the great mardale Totten and may he rest in peace he is now free from hate and racsim
the man mardale killed touched on kids and him as well as a child then tried to continue it when he was older!!! Nobody want there kids touched on to some of the victims Marcus mellested they say mardale is there hero because he would have continued to ruin little kids dreams bet u ain't know that Hun sutphin???????????????
Was he your brother? Your mother or father must have told him these things.. I feel in my spirit justice won't get served but karma will find the WOMAN who purposely killed him.
I did not get the opportunity to spend time with my big brother before he departed this Earth. However I know that life happens and in the end we all eventually leave this one. I really can careless as far as politics are regarded because we can go on and on. Still I would just like to add a few kind words to those who care. Anger only solve problems when we channel it into something positive. He have a Son out here who has no Mom nor Dad now, sad to say. We need to start knowing how to set examples and steer clear of Domestic Violence...Violence altogether. I'm no Saint but I believe that we can make a difference even if we just start inch by inch. Mardale had his mishaps but he was and will always be remembered and loved dearly. Rest in Heaven big brother.
Thats bull crap my name is chasity smith and I am the only child of Marquas King Smith and Denise Powell-Smith. My father was murder by his disgusted nephew and I hope he burns
F mardale he killed my father and left me and my mother to fend for ourselves we were homeless most of my childhood and I sustained much trauma til this day. What about ME what about my mother!!! I've viewed most of the family background since I didn't know how to find yall. I went back to where he died and have made multiple trips to the cathic cemetery to finally give my father a tombstone now that I have the money to now at the age of 29. I lived longer than my father his family's background are full of ghetto criminals and my mother forbade me from reaching out or seeking revenge. Today revenge isn't what I seek though even though I thought I wanted to forgive mardale im am still filled with so much anger and pain. I only have one photo of my father holding me as a baby ONLY 1.
Marlow if you are Mardales brother that makes us cousins and family by blood. Your brother took my father and had no right too regardless of what the story could have been. What right did he have to through me into a life of poverty. If something foul was happening you call the police. If there was enough proof to so call kill him there would have been enough proof to convict him legally. He did not have to take mey father. Karma is a blessing that he died a year later the same way that he took my father. That is divine truth being displayed for all to see the judgement that the lord placed upon him. My siblings one day told me a story about this kid they went to school with that was a little brother to mardale and how that kid came to school after marquas death and bragged about it and laughed about it and pulled my brother and sister over it. I can only assume by the statement "my big brother.." that you were the kid my siblings when to school with. If so you were a child and ignorant as one so I can forgive those past statements but if you still believe what your brother did was right I can not forgive you or yours ever no matter how much I want to love family and bring yall into my life I can not easily forgive the pain I live through everyday. I think about my father as I live through my career in the healthcare industry trying to live out his dream for him by becoming an epidemiologist. I think about his biological family and his adoptive parents which I believe are now deceased and I hope that yall do great things for the community just as I will. I wish that I could have had a healthier relationship with yall but I can not easily look passed violence and allow that in my life. I do wish you and your the best Marlow God bless you and your family
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