[CW: The following story discusses alleged domestic abuse and harassment]
MMA veteran Cedric Marks, 44, is currently in jail in Grand Rapids, MI awaiting extradition to Temple, TX. He was arrested on suspicion of burglarizing the home of Temple-resident Jenna Scott, his ex-girlfriend.
Last week Scott, who had previously sought a protective order against Marks, was found deceased in a shallow grave in Clearview, OK, alongside her friend Michael Swearingin. According to KCENTV Scott and Swearingin’s deaths have been ruled a homicide.
Last Thursday, despite Marks not being named a suspect in Scott and Swearingin’s murders, KCENTV published a report documenting Marks “long and violent criminal past.”
According to that outlet Marks received felony charges for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Tulsa County, OK in 1992. Those charges were later dismissed. That same year Marks plead guilty to attempted robbery with a firearm. Marks served six years in prison and was released in 1998.
In 1999 Marks was arrested in Texas on two counts of unlawful carrying of a weapon, for which he was convicted. In 2008 Marks was found guilty of harassment in Washington state. Around this time Marks was embroiled in a child custody battle with a woman named April Pease.
Court documents described Marks as someone with “aggressive behavior” who was in “complete denial that he has issues around domestic violence”.
Pease was given temporary custody of her and Marks’ child. Pease went missing in 2009. Marks then received custody of their child.
Police in Bloomington, MN have stated that Marks is a person of interest in Pease’s disappearance.
Jenna Scott attempted to secure a protective order against Cedric Marks
In a document filed with the Bell County court in Texas, Jenna Scott described Cedric Marks as a “pathological liar” and a “psychopath.” She also claimed that Marks told her about killing pets when he was a child and that he had covered up killings in the past. Scott also said that Marks threatened to hurt her and her family.
Scott also told the court that, “on two occasions, [Marks] choked me until I lost consciousness. Each time he allowed me to regain consciousness and then he choked me out again.”
Despite this testimony, Scott was denied her protective order against Marks in September, 2018. Less than a month later is when Marks allegedly broke into Scott’s home.
Scott and Michael Swearingin were last seen on January 4th. Their bodies were found in Clearview on January 15th. Marks’ cousin, Shirley Nero, told Channel 6 news that Marks’ father grew up in Clearview and that his family hosts family reunions there.
Arrested along with Marks was Ginell McDonough and Maya Maxwell. McDonough is Marks’ wife and mother of two of his children.
Maxwell told police from Temple, TX that she took Swearingin’s vehicle to Austin, TX in an attempt to hide it from law enforcement. She has been charged with tampering with evidence. McDonough was charged with harboring Marks and Maxwell at her home.
Cedric Marks had a long pro MMA career
Cedric Marks, nicknamed ‘Spider-man’, has a 20-year professional MMA career. His first fight was in 1998, since then he had amassed a record of 31-27 and 1 NC. Notable opponents on Marks’ record include Yves Edwards, Drew Fickett, Pete Spratt, Aaron Riley, Dennis Hallman, Travis Lutter, Daniel Sarafian, and Bobby Voelker. His most recent fight was on March 10th, 2018.
Support for survivors of domestic violence can be found from the following organizations:
USA – The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Canada – DAWN-RAFH Canada
UK and Ireland – Women’s Aid: 0808-2000-247
Rest of the World – HotPeachPages
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