DATE: Wednesday, October 22, 1997           TAG: 9710220518

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JUNE ARNEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   67 lines

YOUTH TESTIFIES HE CAN'T RECALL INFORMATION ABOUT MAN'S DEATH

Richard Wallace Marron II, expected to testify against at least one brother Tuesday, first pleaded the Fifth Amendment and later said he couldn't remember making a statement to police in the shooting death of cinema manager Mark E. Pickrel.

Marron, 18, who was arrested last month in Ripley County, Ind., said he could not remember going to Pickrel's apartment on June 26 or telling authorities about a younger brother's role in the killing.

Marron faces capital murder, robbery and two firearms charges. His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 12.

``I don't remember having any conversations with any detectives,'' he testified during a hearing in juvenile court. His testimony, which appeared to surprise many in the courtroom, prompted Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Willis to ask him if he had amnesia.

As deputies ushered him back to the lockup after his testimony, Marron raised his hand in salute as his brother Travis stood nearby and brother Tracy sat in the audience.

Chesapeake Detective Cecil Whitehurst then testified that he interviewed Marron in Indiana on Sept. 27. In that statement, Marron told the detective that his brother, Travis, had invited him to Pickrel's house. Travis then pulled out a Glock 19 9 mm handgun and told Pickrel he was going to be the victim of a robbery.

The youths made Pickrel lie on a blanket on the floor and bound and gagged him, then later took him to a wooded area, Whitehurst testified.

In his statement, Richard said Travis was in the woods with Pickrel when three shots rang out, Whitehurst testified. Travis then told him Pickrel was all right, and the two drove off. They later returned so Travis could go back in the woods to ``check on the situation,'' Whitehurst testified.

Chesapeake police found Pickrel's body near an overgrown dirt path in the 2300 block of Elizabeth Harbor Drive, across from a Virginia Power substation. Robbery is considered to be the motive.

Also on Tuesday, Juvenile Court Judge Frederick H. Creekmore found probable cause to send Travis Marron, 17, to adult court for trial on charges of capital murder, robbery and two firearms violations.

Tracy Marron, 15, pleaded guilty to receiving property stolen from Pickrel, a misdemeanor. Prosecutors agreed not to pursue a charge of accessory after the fact to capital murder, saying that the youth did not know about the killing at the time.

The disposition of Tracy Marron's case has been transferred to Portsmouth, where the youth already was on probation. The new charge could result in the revocation of his probation or a range of other sentences, including time in boot camp or in a juvenile correctional center.

But, for now, Tracy Marron - who has been held in Tidewater Detention Home since his arrest in June - is free. He broke into a broad smile when the judge released him to his mother's custody.

In an interview during a break in the hearing, he said he plans to stay out of trouble and get back his jobs doing home improvements and landscaping. He also said he wants to earn his GED by taking night classes.

Even now, he has a lot of questions about Pickrel's death.

``I still don't know what happened,'' Tracy Marron said. ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

ALBA BRAGOLI/Illustration

In court before Juvenile Court Judge Frederick H. Creekmore on

Tuesday are the Marron brothers, Tracy, seated, Travis, center, and

Richard, right. Tracy, the youngest, was released to his mother's

custody. KEYWORDS: MURDER TRIAL SHOOTING TESTIMONY

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