ROSS COUNTY, Ohio – “God told me I could be here.” That was the response a burglar told police when they arrived at a Ross County residence on January 28.
According to reports, the Ross County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man who said there was a suspicious vehicle parked on his property. The man told deputies that he lived alone and that there should be no one at his residence.
Deputies, reports say, arrived on the scene and found a silver SUV. After running the vehicle’s identification number it was discovered that the SUV had been stolen out of Columbus.
The homeowner and deputies on the scene noticed footprints leading from the SUV to the caller’s home. Deputies asked the owner if he had any cameras on the property. According to the statements provided, the homeowner said there were cameras inside his residence as well as several loaded firearms.
Deputies said the homeowner was able to use his smartphone to access his surveillance footage. That is when, officials say, it was discovered that a woman was lying in the homeowner’s bed.
Troopers with the Ohio Highway Patrol, along with a canine unit from the Chillicothe Police Department, were requested to the residence. Once on the scene, law enforcement surrounded the home and called out for the suspect to exit the property.
Reports say after several attempts to contact the suspect inside, law enforcement made entry into the home.
A female was found inside the residence laying in the caller’s bed. The homeowner told deputies that he kept a loaded pistol under his pillow in the bedroom next to where the burglar was sleeping.
Deputies yelled at the female to show them her hands. Reports say that after several attempts to have the suspect get out of the bed, deputies then forcefully removed the woman and handcuffed her.
The woman, identified as 40-year-old Margie Marcum, was believed to be under the influence. When asked by investigators as to why she was at the home, Marcum replied, “God told her to be there and to go and lie down.”
Marcum was transported to Adena Regional Medical Center for evaluation. She currently faces several felony charges, including receiving stolen property, obstruction, resisting arrest, and aggravated burglary.
The case, officials say, remains under investigation.