[Archived] Thompson-Marshall Sentenced for Murder

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2017

On July 13, 2017, Paula Thompson Marshall, a 48-year old Alexandria resident, was sentenced to serve 14 years in the penitentiary with 3 years of post-release supervision for the murder of her husband, Rolf Marshall.

The defendant had been previously convicted of murder by a jury of her peers on April 21, 2017.

The evidence adduced at trial established that at about 10:45 a.m. on October 5, 2016, the defendant engaged in an argument with her husband over whether their elderly dog should be euthanized. The defendant brandished a .38 caliber revolver during the argument and shot her husband as he sat in his favorite easy chair, his body turned away from the defendant in a defensive posture. Mr. Marshall was struck once in the torso, and the bullet damaged several internal organs and blood vessels, resulting in his death.

The defendant called police and told them that the shooting was “accidental,” a defense that was disregarded by the jury.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Sean Sherlock tried the case. The matter was investigated by Detective William Oakley of the Alexandria Police Department.

The defendant is being held in the Alexandria Adult Detention Center pending her transfer to the Department of Corrections.