Kentucky Man Arrested Over Shocking Halloween Display Depicting Local Officials in Body Bags
A small town in Kentucky is making national headlines after a man’s Halloween display went far beyond spooky — and landed him in handcuffs.
According to police, 58-year-old Stephan Marcum was arrested after refusing to take down a controversial front-yard setup that featured fake human bodies wrapped in black trash bags, each labeled with the title of a local official. The chilling scene was discovered at Marcum’s home in Stanton, Kentucky, just outside Lexington.
Among the labels on the body bags were “District Judge,” “Mayor,” “SIS,” “C.A.,” and “Zoning Mgr.” Investigators noted that the bag marked “District Judge” even had a rope tied around its neck, a detail that police described as deeply disturbing.
A Dispute Turned Into a Disturbing Display
Court documents reveal that Marcum has been in a long-running dispute with the City of Stanton over zoning violations related to his home’s water, sewer, and electrical systems. In September, a judge fined him $250 and ordered him to bring his property into compliance within 30 days.
Police say Marcum erected the disturbing Halloween display shortly after that hearing, which authorities interpreted as an act of intimidation. When officers arrived and ordered him to remove the decorations, Marcum reportedly refused — leading to his arrest.
Facing Serious Charges
Marcum now faces charges of intimidating a participant in the legal process and third-degree terroristic threatening. His arraignment was delayed after the presiding judge recused himself because of his involvement in Marcum’s zoning case. As of this week, Marcum remains in custody on a $5,000 bond, according to WKYT.
Officials Urge Responsibility
Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes commented that such displays can cross the line from freedom of expression into intimidation:
“If you’re going to express yourself, don’t do it in a way that could be harmful or threatening to others. Seeing those figures hanging up with officials’ names on them is somewhat alarming.”
A Cautionary Halloween Tale
What began as a neighborhood Halloween decoration has now become a cautionary tale about the boundaries of free expression and public safety. As police continue their investigation, community members are left debating whether Marcum’s “display” was an artistic protest — or a threat that went too far.
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