A humbling story
Founded by Wick Allison & Jim Atkinson, D-Magazine's 1st issue was 54 years ago, October 1974. That same year I first began to track the FBR.
Gobsmacked* is a word I know, but rarely use. Because, frankly, I'm not not frequently gobsmacked. I was however gobsmacked (I've now used it three times) when I saw Tim Rogers "Editor's Note". Like you, you probably intially focused on the words "Bad Idea" and thought at the least, "Uh-oh!" That's what I did. My uh-oh was followed by, oh-no.
However very quickly I realized the direction of Tim's thoughts were in praise of MJ's story and my actions. I was litterally gobsmacked--emboding the definition and it's synonyms. Thank you, Tim for your kind words and recognition.
(If you happen to be unfamiliar with the word and what it expresses... check * after of the story.)
Here is MJ's story as it appears in the October 2026 issue of D-Magazine.
Note: These are screen shots of the magazine, and may not be easy reading becase of the size of the type. Whether this is or is not readible, please get a copy of the issue on the newstaand or online, if you don't have a subscription to D-Magazine. (Get one) Please share this story.
Pages 84-85
Pages 86-87
Pages 88-89
Pages 90-91
Come February 14, 2027 I will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the morning the 'so-called' Friendly Burglar Rapist was caught by DPD's own Barry Whitfield and put in jail and later convicted. I first began writing the non-fiction TrueCrime book: One Step from Murder: The Friendly Burglar RAPIST in the late 2000's. I have updated that book a number of times, the last in 2023. My plan is to write one more edition for the 50th anniversary of Marble's arrest.
I was very surprised and heartened when MJ emailed me after seeing the "Contact Robert", "Send A Note" feature at the bottom of my website. First I was surprised, because she is the first of the women I had written about in that book to actually make contact with me. I was not surprised that I had not heard from the women who I did not name in my book. I intentionally only referred to them by their intials, such as "MJ". The book was not written to expose or potentialy embarrass any of the complainants, the women who had been assaulted by Marble and felt the need or responsiblity to report their horrific encounter to police.
I was very heartened by MJ and her mastery over the moment and memory of her assault. She is an amazing woman.
My partner Tom Covington (who passed away December 14, 2017) and I documented just over eighty (80) offences we believed matched Marble's MO (Method of Operation). Of those eight offences, we called 'knowns', forty (40) were sexual assaults/rapes. When interviewed on the morning of his arrest Marble 'copped' (said he acknowledged/agreed) to each of those 80 offenses. He did not give us any additional crimes to add to our list of 'knowns' but did say, "that's not all of them". And when asked, how many places he went in a night, he said, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
One of MJ's comments upon contacting me was that she thought (based on what a DA's investigator told her) that her case was one of seven. It was not until she read my book did she realize she was not alone, one of seven... there were many, many more women who experience what she did.
I hope all who read MJ's article and or my book, find connection and affirmation in them. After almost 50 years, If you find or have found your initials in my book (you know if they are yours) and you would like to contact me--to tell your story or not--I would be humbled to hear from you and provide whatever knowledge or answers to whatever questions you might have.
Regardless. May the Lord's blessings follow you and His saving Grace be manifest in your life.
I want to thank Tim Rogers (Editor D-Magazine) for his caring, encouraging and thoughtful handling of MJ's story and his very kind words to both of us.
Thank you to Stephen Arevalos, D-Magazine Design Director, for his assistance.
And a special thank you to Elizabeth Lavin (D-Magazine photographer) for a great photo experience. Thank you for the flattering photo and the enjoyable shoot!
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*gobsmacked:
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