DECATUR, Ala. — A Decatur resident faces murder charges after an attack on an elderly woman and the discovery of a man found dead in his home.
Decatur police said the incidents began around 7:15 a.m. on August 31, when a woman was assaulted at the intersection of Line Street and Market Street on the city's northeast side. A witness followed the suspect's vehicle and reported it to authorities. The victim, Mimi Marquette, was found with multiple injuries and was transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment.
Police found the suspect, 32-year-old Mary Hughes booked her into the Morgan County Jail on August 31. She was initially charged with second-degree assault and released on a $50,000 bond. Hughes posted bond and was released from jail on August 28.
On September 5, Marquette died from her injuries. Following her death, Hughes was charged with Marquette's murder. Additionally, on September 1, police discovered a man identified as James Jefferson dead in the 1000 block of East Moulton Street NE. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences ruled Jefferson's death a homicide and also linked Hughes to this case.
A Morgan County Circuit Judge has set Hughes' bond at $100,000 for Marquette's murder and $200,000 for Jefferson's death. Hughes is currently held in the Morgan County Jail with a total bond of $300,000.
