Sue Marcum
/ Courtesy: American University
BETHESDA, MD -- Hearts are heavy across Central New York as a local family prepares to bury their daughter who's life was cut short in a vicious attack.
Sue Marcum, 52, was murdered in Bethesda, Maryland where she lived. The Central New York native graduated from Nottingham High School. Her family still lives in DeWitt. They are now facing the grim task of planning her funeral, which will be held privately.
Marcum was a professor of accounting at American University's Kogod School of Business and director of the master's in Accounting program in Washington D.C.
She was found dead in her home Monday. The Baltimore medical examiner's office has ruled the case a homicide, and says she was killed by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.
Investigators have arrested a teenager who, they say, was found driving Marcum's Jeep Cherokee. According to the NBC affiliate in Washington D.C., Deandrew Hamlin, 18, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and felony fleeing. Other charges are pending.
Bethesda police tell us a search warrant was conducted at 6:30pm Tuesday night at Hamlin's Washington D.C. home and evidence was collected. Hamlin has not been charged in Marcum's murder, but we're told he is a potential suspect in the case.
When asked whether Marcum was home alone at the time or how her attacker got into her house, Bethesda police told us that's all part of the ongoing investigation.
Hamlin was caught late Monday after leading police on a chase. Police spotted Marcum's jeep around 11:15 p.m. and pursued it until the driver crashed. Marcum's lifeless body was found by a friend Monday morning. Police say there were signs of forced entry into her home, and it appears to be a robbery gone bad. They are now investigating her death as a homicide.
On Monday, American University issued a memo to students, faculty and staff, informing them of Marcum's death. The memo say, in part, "Professor Marcum was a beloved member of the Kogod community and her sudden death is a tremendous loss to her students and colleagues. A member of the Kogod Accounting faculty, she was a dynamic and engaging teacher." Read the full statement.
According to her biography, Marcum was on faculty since 1999. The University is now offering grief counseling to those on campus who need it.
Marcum earned Kogod's Professor of the Year award for three consecutive years. The University says she was described by her students and peers as warm, caring and funny, bringing the subject of accounting to life with her enthusiasm. Read more about how she's being remembered on campus.
American University officials tell CNY Central that a campus memorial service honoring Professor Marcum is being planned. The details have not yet been finalized.
