Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 8, 1993                   TAG: 9305080062
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WALTON                                LENGTH: Medium

WALTON MAN CHARGED IN KILLING OF PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND

Tabitha Jo Young Bell, 22, was found on her kitchen floor at 2842 Spaulding Road. She had been shot in the left side of her head, said Dr. David Oxley, deputy chief medical examiner for Western Virginia, and died almost immediately.

Kelly Floyd Marshall, 20, was charged with murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. The homicide was the first this year in Montgomery County.

Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said there can be only one murder charge even though the victim was seven months pregnant. According to state law there must be a live birth before someone can be accused of murder, Keith said.

A shotgun was found on a living-room sofa. Police also found one spent shell, Montgomery County Sheriff Ken Phipps said.

Bell had been arguing with Marshall around 7 p.m., according to police reports.

Belinda Hypes, girlfriend of Marshall's father, Houston Barker, said she heard the shot from their mountaintop home next door.

"About two minutes later, [Marshall] came over and said, `Daddy, what do I do?' We said, `How do you mean?' and he said, `I've killed Tabi. I've blowed her brains in.' "

Hypes called 911, and the three waited for police to arrive.

"He'd had a bad day, I guess," Hypes said of Marshall. "He'd worked all day and he came in the driveway and the radiator hose was messed up."

Hypes said Marshall's mother had died earlier this year and that he might have been stressed out because it was nearing Mother's Day.

"And Tabitha was pregnant," Hypes said.

Hypes said Bell, whose divorce from her husband became final this month, had been asking Marshall to stay at home with her instead of going out with friends.

Police arrived at the small, gray house, down winding roads in the Walton section of Montgomery County just after 7 p.m.

"It was a domestic dispute," said Dan Haga, chief deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff's office. "Marshall arrived home from work and shortly afterward, an argument ensued."

Marshall was being held in Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 3 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Kathy Loan contributed information to this story.