Suvechha Sarkar
On August 24, 2011, the community was shaken to its core when 34-year-old Marc Evan Despain was shot dead in his home in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The untimely death of the beloved son and devoted father left his loved ones completely heartbroken. The episode titled ‘The Ties That Bind’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fatal Vows’ focuses on the details of the complex homicide investigation that unraveled a shocking murder conspiracy. The episode also features emotional interviews with his loved ones and the detectives who worked diligently to crack the case.
Marc Despain Was Shot Dead Inside His Home After Returning From a Date
Marc Evan Despain arrived as a ray of sunshine in the lives of his parents, Jack and Tana Despain, on April 16, 1977. He was brought up in a household in Jonesboro, Arkansas, surrounded by his parents’ love. Marc also maintained a close relationship with his beloved sister, Jacquelyn Clayton. He was always known for his smart and outgoing personality. During his time at Nettleton High School, he showcased his athletic side as a member of the school’s football team. Marc also participated in several other sports before graduating in 1995. He began his professional journey by joining his family’s business as a Real Estate Appraiser. A man of faith, Marc was a proud member of the Central Baptist Church. In his free time, he enjoyed activities such as scuba diving, hunting, and visiting the beach.
As a sports enthusiast, Marc was one of the Valley View Blazers’ biggest supporters. In 1997, he met his school friend, Michelle Renee Despain. She reportedly had a daughter, Brooke, from a previous relationship. It wasn’t long before Marc and Michelle began dating, and they eventually tied the knot. Over the next 4 years, they welcomed their sons, Zac and Blake Despain, into the world. Brooke also settled down with the family at their home in Jonesboro. In 2007, following some issues with his father, Marc reportedly launched his own real estate company. There, Michelle worked as the Bookkeeper, while her father, Carl Kelley, helped collect rents from tenants. In 2008, Marc officially adopted Brooke, completing their family.
According to Tana, when Brooke accused Jack of taking questionable photos of her, it led to a rift between Marc and his parents. By 2011, Michelle had joined a bank as an Assistant. On August 24, 2011, Marc and Michelle had lunch before she returned to the bank, where she learned from Carl that her family had some unpaid bills. When she rushed to her home to collect the documents, she found Marc in a pool of blood and promptly called 911. As officials arrived, they found Marc dead on the kitchen floor from two gunshot wounds, one to the left armpit area and another to his face. They discovered that although the house seemed ransacked, no valuable items were missing. Detectives also found no signs of forced entry. The autopsy reportedly determined Marc’s cause of death to be the fatal gunshot wounds.
Deleted Mobile Texts and the Killer’s Confession Exposed a Murder-for-Hire Plot
When detectives first arrived at Marc’s home, they found Michelle hiding under a bush outside. In her statements, she claimed that her father, Carl, had informed her about unpaid bills, which allegedly prompted her to return home from the bank. She continued that she then discovered Marc in the kitchen and ran out to call 911, as per reports. After speaking with Marc’s neighbors, investigators learned that on the afternoon of August 24, 2011, they noticed two African-American men driving through the neighborhood. When Carl was questioned about the murder, he informed the officials that he was at the bank with Michelle, which was further verified using CCTV footage. According to court records, during questioning, Michelle confessed that she had an affair with a 24-year-old bank worker, Jessie Mackenzie.
According to police records, Michelle used to pay for Jessie’s rent and other expenses. In her statements, Michelle revealed that Marc had learned of the relationship because of her extensive spending, which was straining the family’s finances. However, Marc reportedly gave their marriage another chance. When officials discovered Marc’s strained relationship with his father, Jack, they soon honed in on the lead, but Jack was quickly ruled out as a suspect. A breakthrough came on August 29, 2011, when an informant reportedly told the detectives that Qualom, whose real name is Terrance Barker, was involved in the murder. They further learned that he had an associate, Johnny Hubbard, who was also a tenant on one of Marc’s properties. During initial questioning, Terrance denied any involvement in the crime.
On the contrary, Johnny reportedly confessed that on August 24, he had picked up Terrance for a secret meeting with Carl. According to records, Terrance eventually admitted to shooting Marc for a $7,000 payment. Finally, Terrance, Carl, and Johnny were arrested in 2011. While Terrance and Carl were charged with capital murder, Johnny faced the charge of hindering apprehension. As officials dug deeper, they discovered that Michelle and Marc were on the verge of bankruptcy. However, there were two life insurance policies on Marc, each for $500,000, with Michelle as the beneficiary. Police records indicate that digital forensic experts uncovered deleted text messages from Carl and Michelle’s phone on the day of the murder, where she wrote, “Has to be today.” Based on the incriminating texts, Michelle was arrested in May 2012 and charged with capital murder.
While Carl is Likely Incarcerated in a State Prison Facility, Michelle is Out on Parole Today
Following their arrest, Johnny, Terrance, and Carl initially pleaded not guilty. Ultimately, Johnny avoided a jury trial by entering into a guilty plea with the prosecution. He pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension and revocation of probation from a previous drug charge. Johnny was sentenced to 18 years in prison on June 29, 2012. Similarly, on May 7, 2012, Terrance pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Marc. During his hearing, the prosecution pointed out how he was hired by Carl to kill Marc. On September 14, 2012, Terrance received a 35-year prison term.
On December 4, 2012, Carl entered into a plea deal with the prosecution and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Before the sentencing, the prosecution highlighted the text messages between Carl and Michelle, which were shared shortly before Marc’s murder on the fateful day. They further pointed out that he planned with his daughter to kill his son-in-law, allegedly for the life insurance payout. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison on January 4, 2013. Michelle was the last person involved in the crime to enter a guilty plea. In August 2014, she pleaded guilty to three counts of hindering apprehension. The capital murder charge against Michelle was also dropped as part of the deal.
Michelle was sentenced to a 30-year prison term on September 14, 2014. On December 4, 2018, Michelle was reportedly released on parole. Her supervision is set to end on September 14, 2044. As of writing, Michelle maintains a low profile away from the spotlight. Terrance is currently serving his sentence at the Delta Regional Unit – Arkansas Department of Correction in Dermott, Arkansas. According to court records, Johnny was released on parole on April 14, 2025, and his parole is scheduled to end on August 27, 2069. Currently, Carl appears to be serving his time in an Arkansas Correctional Facility. It is essential to note that the court records do not provide further details about his location.
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