Naman Shrestha
The peaceful farming village of Colon, Nebraska, was shaken to its core in the summer of 2003 when one of the residents, 66-year-old Sharron Erickson, was found brutally killed in her home. As the investigators zeroed in on multiple potential suspects, DNA evidence helped them identify the perpetrator responsible for the horrific crime. The episode titled ‘Murder on Main Street’ of Oxygen’s ‘The Killer Among Us’ delves deep into the entire case in a detailed manner, with the help of exclusive interviews with Sharron’s loved ones and officials who helped solve the case.
Sharron Erickson Was Found Dead in Her Home’s Garage
Alma Huscher Behrens welcomed Sharron Kay Behrens Erickson into the world on August 15, 1936, in Fremont, Nebraska. She was raised on a farm near Colon alongside her sister, Connie Lippold, and brother, John A. “Jack” Behrens. Soon after graduating from Cedar Bluffs High School, Sharron relocated to Colon in 1956. A few years later, in 1961, she became a clerk at the Saunders County Treasurer’s Office in Wahoo. She lived in a converted former grocery store, while her garage was located across the street. After serving as the Deputy County Treasurer for more than 30 years, she retired in 1998. Sharron was described as a kind and compassionate woman who loved dancing and spending time with her friends and family. She was leading a peaceful life until a tragedy struck on the evening of June 30, 2003.
That evening, the authorities received a call from one of Sharron’s friends reporting a possible murder in Sharron’s garage. When the officers arrived at the scene, they found the 66-year-old woman dead and lying in a pool of blood with a gun near her remains. Upon inspecting the scene of the crime, they discovered blood smeared on a car door, a bloody shoe print, signs of forced entry at her home’s back door, and a disconnected phone line. In addition, the firearm found near the remains was devoid of any bullets, and there were no shell casings at the scene. About a week later, the autopsy report concluded that she didn’t have any gunshot wounds, and the cause of her death was blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. The medical examiner also found evidence of sexual assault and determined that she had been beaten to the point that her ribs were broken.
Sharron Erickson’s Killer Was Apprehended Through DNA Evidence
After launching the homicide investigation, the detectives dug deeper into Sharron Erickson’s life in order to understand the circumstances surrounding the murder. That’s when they interviewed Rick Hartman, a postmaster and volunteer firefighter who was a close friend of Sharron. Although police thoroughly questioned him, he was cleared as a suspect because he had a solid alibi, corroborated by his wife. Next, the investigators focused on one of Sharron’s acquaintances, James Marrs, who resided near her. Shocked to learn about her passing, James claimed that he had gone out with friends after completing a roofing job in Kansas on the day of the murder. He told them that he returned home around 1:30 am, which was backed by his mother.
James also indicated that a truck driver, who repeatedly got into arguments with Sharron, could also be a potential suspect. However, when the detectives tracked him down and questioned him, the truck driver denied any involvement in the murder and provided them with a solid alibi for the fateful night. Soon, the authorities made a DNA profile of the perpetrator with the help of traces of semen that they had left on Sharron’s remains. After collecting DNA samples from individuals connected to her, the investigators were shocked when the DNA of James Marrs matched the DNA profile of the killer. Although he had been seen at his home on the night of the murder, the detectives realized that he could have easily sneaked out and broken into Sharron’s residence to kill her later that night.
Thus, on the morning of May 4, 2004, he was arrested and brought in for questioning. The suspect denied having anything to do with the killing and maintained his innocence. The following day, he was charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault of Sharron Erickson. The detectives theorized that after drinking out on the fateful night, James broke into Sharron’s home, allegedly in search of money. After cutting the phone line, he forced the back door open, and during a confrontation with her, he attacked her and killed her. Although he maintained innocence, he alleged that he and Sharron got into a casual sexual relationship at some point.
James Marrs is Currently Incarcerated at a Nebraska Prison
While James Marrs was awaiting his trial, he allegedly confessed to killing Sharron Erickson during conversations with a few other inmates. Soon, in August 2005, James pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a reduced sentence. During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor read out a letter written by Sharron’s sister, who called the convict a “terrorist” to her and “to the people of Colon who lived in fear knowing a murderer was out there.” Eventually, he was sentenced to life in prison, with identical minimum and maximum terms. Not long after, he and his defense counsel filed a motion to get his conviction overturned. However, the Court of Appeals denied his appeal. As of today, the 47-year-old killer is serving his sentence at Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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