Randolph Man Charged In Connection With 1980 Slaying
Forbes Was Arrested Last Week
Updated: 4:08 am CDT March 31,2009
PORTAGE, Wis. -- A 51-year-old Randolph man was charged with first-degree murder on Monday in the death of his friend's wife nearly 30 years ago.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportCurtis Forbes, 51, was arrested in connection with the killing of Marilyn McIntyre, 18, in her Columbus home in 1980. Forbes made his first court appearance in Columbia County court on Monday. He appeared in court via video conference from the Columbia County Jail.During the hearing, Columbia County Circuit Judge Alan White set a $750,000 cash bond for Forbes. Columbia County District Attorney Jane Kohlwey had asked for a $5 million bond, saying Forbes could be flight risk and threat to some witnesses.Forbes' attorney George Strother said he's not confident the union carpenter or his family can raise the cash for the bond. Forbes' defense attorney asked for $10,000 cash bail, plus up to $100,000 property bond. The property bond was denied.If Forbes posts bail, he must report daily to the sheriff's department and have no contact with the McIntyre family or any witnesses in the criminal complaint.Meanwhile, the family members of Marilyn McIntyre were in court on Monday, joined by the family of her husband, Lane McIntyre, although he wasn't in court.McIntyre's husband apparently believes his then-friend Forbes killed Marilyn because she told Forbes' wife to leave him because of alleged abuse, WISC-TV reported.After the hearing, Lane McIntyre's sister, Rhonda Erickson, said it was a "bittersweet day" for the family."For 29 years, everybody pointed their finger at my brother for doing this and that is so unfair. (Forbes) calls himself a man. He is no man. He's a coward," Erickson said.She also said that she didn't like the fact that Forbes could post bail."I'm not happy with the bail. I'm afraid he'll be able to raise that. I'm sure if his family can help him, he'll get the bail and out he'd be free to hurt again," she said.Forbes' wife Debra was also in court, but she declined to be interviewed.The investigation into McIntyre's death was reopened last year, WISC-TV reported.Police said that they learned of a conversation Forbes had in 2002 in which he allegedly said he got away with murder. Court documents said an informant told detectives in February that he heard Forbes tell Forbes' son in 2002 that he took a wife's friend home from a bar and she didn't breathe anymore that night.Authorities said that DNA evidence also confirms that Forbes might have been in the McIntyre home.The victim's husband, Lane McIntyre, found her beaten, strangled and stabbed to death when he returned from his third-shift job. Their 3-month-old son was in the home, unharmed.Detectives found Forbes during a traffic stop last Tuesday near his rural Randolph home and later arrested him.A date for a preliminary hearing hasn't been set, WISC-TV reported.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportCurtis Forbes, 51, was arrested in connection with the killing of Marilyn McIntyre, 18, in her Columbus home in 1980. Forbes made his first court appearance in Columbia County court on Monday. He appeared in court via video conference from the Columbia County Jail.During the hearing, Columbia County Circuit Judge Alan White set a $750,000 cash bond for Forbes. Columbia County District Attorney Jane Kohlwey had asked for a $5 million bond, saying Forbes could be flight risk and threat to some witnesses.Forbes' attorney George Strother said he's not confident the union carpenter or his family can raise the cash for the bond. Forbes' defense attorney asked for $10,000 cash bail, plus up to $100,000 property bond. The property bond was denied.If Forbes posts bail, he must report daily to the sheriff's department and have no contact with the McIntyre family or any witnesses in the criminal complaint.Meanwhile, the family members of Marilyn McIntyre were in court on Monday, joined by the family of her husband, Lane McIntyre, although he wasn't in court.McIntyre's husband apparently believes his then-friend Forbes killed Marilyn because she told Forbes' wife to leave him because of alleged abuse, WISC-TV reported.After the hearing, Lane McIntyre's sister, Rhonda Erickson, said it was a "bittersweet day" for the family."For 29 years, everybody pointed their finger at my brother for doing this and that is so unfair. (Forbes) calls himself a man. He is no man. He's a coward," Erickson said.She also said that she didn't like the fact that Forbes could post bail."I'm not happy with the bail. I'm afraid he'll be able to raise that. I'm sure if his family can help him, he'll get the bail and out he'd be free to hurt again," she said.Forbes' wife Debra was also in court, but she declined to be interviewed.The investigation into McIntyre's death was reopened last year, WISC-TV reported.Police said that they learned of a conversation Forbes had in 2002 in which he allegedly said he got away with murder. Court documents said an informant told detectives in February that he heard Forbes tell Forbes' son in 2002 that he took a wife's friend home from a bar and she didn't breathe anymore that night.Authorities said that DNA evidence also confirms that Forbes might have been in the McIntyre home.The victim's husband, Lane McIntyre, found her beaten, strangled and stabbed to death when he returned from his third-shift job. Their 3-month-old son was in the home, unharmed.Detectives found Forbes during a traffic stop last Tuesday near his rural Randolph home and later arrested him.A date for a preliminary hearing hasn't been set, WISC-TV reported.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories:
- March 27, 2009: Charges Expected Next Week In 1980 Columbus Slaying
- March 26, 2009: Slain Columbus Woman's Husband Feels Vindicated, Angry
- March 26, 2009: Man Arrested In Connection With 1980 Slaying Of Columbus Woman
Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
