Place Missing: Northland, KS.
Age: 47
Race: African-American
Hair Color: Brown
John L. Brinson, Marilyn's husband of thirty years, said he last saw her on the night of July 16, 2002 at their home in the 2000 block of northeast Russell Road in Northland, Kansas. She went to bed as usual, but when he woke up the next morning she was gone, and he assumed she had gone to work. Marilyn's wedding ring was left behind on the dresser and her boss called to ask why she hadn't shown up for work. Police located Marilyn's car, a green four-door 1995 Taurus, which was found abandoned in the middle of 24th Street near Topping Ave. A large amount of her blood was found inside the vehicle, spattered around and in pools on the dashboard and the passenger seat and floorboards. Investigators stated the amount of blood found was such that Marilyn could not have survived.
On August 14, less than a month after her disappearance, John was charged with her murder. Police found his hadprint in Marilyn's blood in her car. They believe he inflicted an injury, possibly with a gun, on her that caused her to die from blood loss. He may have then disposed of her body in or near the Missouri River. The couple's adult sons said Marily and John were arguing the night before her disappearance, and John himself stated that shortly before his wife's disappearance, he had learned that she was having an affair. He maintains his innocence in her case. He was tried in June 2005, but in the middle of the proceedings the judge declared a mistrial. John was retried in October 2006, and was convicted. he faces a maximum of life in prison for his wife's murder.
Marilyn is described as a kind person. She worked at a Texaco Star Mart station at U.S. 169 and northeast 68th Street in Northland at the time of her disappearance. Her husband was a heavy machinery operator. They have four children together.
Investigating Agency:
The TIPS Hotline
816-474-8477
Sources:
The Charley Project
If you have any information regarding Marilyn's disappearance, please contact the above agency!