Jasper County jury finds Carthage man guilty of murdering his neighbor

It only took 24 minutes for a Jasper County jury to convict Ricky L. Marchbanks, 62, Carthage, for the May 16, 2016, murder of his neighbor.

The jury convicted Marchbanks for first degree murder and armed criminal action.

The verdict came during the third day of the trial following the presentation of the defense evidence and closing statements.








Marchbanks will continue to be held without bond while awaiting his sentencing, which is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. March 9.

The neighbor, Jeremy D. Neeper, 38, was standing in his front yard at 1032 Valley and shouting at Marchbanks, who was driving by in his pickup, according to the probable cause statement when Marchbanks stopped the vehicle, grabbed his gun, got out of the truck, shot Neeper, then climbed back in and drove away, saying, "I got him. I shot him in the belly."

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