BEAR, DE — A welfare check in the early hours of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, resulted in the arrest of a Bear man on allegations of murder. New Castle County Police were called to the 1700 block of Barbara Circle in the Waterford Trailer Park at approximately 12:50 a.m. after receiving reports of a possibly suicidal individual.
Upon arrival, officers located 66-year-old Joel Culpepper walking through the neighborhood. He was taken into custody without incident. However, when officers returned to Culpepper’s residence, they discovered his girlfriend, 63-year-old Maryann Martin, unconscious inside the home. Officers administered life-saving measures, but Martin was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Detectives from the Major Crimes Squad and Evidence Detection Squad assumed the investigation and subsequently charged Culpepper with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.
Following treatment at a local hospital, Culpepper was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters. He was later arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,060,000 cash bail.
Officials noted that the investigation remains active, and all allegations against Culpepper are yet to be proven in a court of law.
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