BY LISA STAYTON
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — A family is seeking answers following the shocking death of Christina Salyers Marcum, 40, last month. Police discovered her body inside her home on Fitch Branch Road in Inez. However, details surrounding her death remain shrouded in mystery, leading to mounting frustration and grief within her family.

“We know nothing. No one has contacted us or told us anything,” lamented Vicki Vanhorn Webb, Christina’s aunt. “Her mother was promised a call from the police on the day of the death. She got nothing. There’s not been a call from the state police; there’s not been a call from anyone.” 

Webb told The Mountain Citizen that Christina’s mother and the rest of their family are overcome with grief, particularly since they were promised an update from the police that never came.

It happened in the early morning hours June 30. Martin County Coroner Chris Todd received a call about the death at 7:49 a.m. and pronounced Christina dead at the scene. While her body was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, no further details about the investigation have been shared with the family or the public.

Adding to the family’s concerns is a harrowing incident that occurred a month before Christina’s death. On May 31, Martin County Sheriff’s deputies found Christina imprisoned in the camper she shared with her husband, Justin Marcum, 36. The camper was padlocked from the outside, with the windows covered by wooden and metal planks. Christina had been trapped without any means to communicate with the outside world.

According to the police report, Christina claimed her husband had confined her due to his “extreme jealousy.” In response, police arrested Justin Marcum, charging him with second-degree imprisonment.

“He locked her in there all day with no phone and no clothes,” said Webb. “That’s what she told her mother when she finally got to talk with her. She had to sit there with no clothes. If she did get out, he didn’t want her going far.”

Justin Marcum pleaded not guilty to the charge June 5 in Martin Circuit Court. The court amended his bond and ordered him to avoid unlawful contact with his wife and to complete outpatient treatment for addiction.

Disturbingly, Justin Marcum was present at the home on the day his wife died. He was subsequently arrested July 5 for violating his probation on a “prior misdemeanor offense.”

“He wasn’t supposed to go back there,” stated Webb.

Christina’s aunt noted family members’ observances of her niece’s physical condition at the time of the funeral.

“Her head was cut above her eyebrow. It was deep,” she said of reports from Christina’s brothers who viewed their sister in the morgue. “Her feet were bruised and she had bruising around her neck.”

Despite these visible injuries, the family has not been informed of any developments in the case. The autopsy results are still pending.

As the family copes with Christina’s tragic death, they are also dealing with rumors and fears of a system that they perceive as biased against them. Webb stated that the family had heard Christina lay dead for up to 14 hours before the death was reported. This rumor, combined with a lack of official information, has further stoked the family’s fears and frustrations.

Christina’s mother, who had planned to take her to Louisa for Fourth of July festivities , called her daughter every day.

“Her mother called her at 8 o’clock the night before, and Chrissy didn’t answer the phone,” said Webb. “That’s odd for Chrissy not to answer the phone. She always answers because he won’t let her go anywhere.”

Webb pleaded for help, stating, “All she ever wanted was for somebody to love her.”

Christina grew up in Louisa and moved to Inez after marrying Justin Marcum “about five years ago.” Before her untimely death, she worked as a customer service representative. She is survived by her mother, Kim Salyers; brothers Giren and Justin Salyers; stepdaughter Ariel Marcum; several nieces and nephews; and Harold Sexton, who was like a second father to her.

The Kentucky State Police have yet to issue a statement regarding the case.