Couple May Face Death Penalties in Huntington Beach Murder Case

A Kentucky man and his girlfriend, already facing a possible death penalty in a San Bernardino County rape and murder, were ordered Tuesday to stand trial in a similar Orange County case that could also mean a death sentence.

James Gregory Marlow, 31, and Cynthia Lynn Coffman, 25, seated six feet apart and handcuffed to wooden chairs, sat without expression as West Municipal Court Judge William L. Mock read the charges following a two-day preliminary hearing.

Both will stand trial on charges of murder, rape, kidnap for robbery, kidnap, burglary and robbery. The rape, kidnap, robbery and burglary charges are all special circumstances under state law that permit Orange County prosecutors to seek the death penalty for the murder of Lynel Murray, 19, of Huntington Beach.

The suspects are accused of killing Murray, a college student, in a Huntington Beach motel room on Nov. 12, 1986. The two are facing trial in San Bernardino in the murder of Corinna D. Novis, 20, of Redlands, who was killed five days before Murray.

‘Every Bit As Culpable’

If convicted, Coffman could become the first woman to be sentenced to death in California since the new death-penalty law was enacted in 1977.

While prosecutors in both counties contend that Marlow killed the victims, Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard F. Toohey said Coffman “is every bit as culpable for Lynel Murray’s murder as Marlow.”

He said Coffman has a tattoo on her buttocks that reads: “I belong to the Folsom Wolf.” Marlow is a former inmate of Folsom State Prison and “Folsom Wolf” was his nickname, Toohey said.

Coffman’s attorney, Donald W. Jordan Jr. of San Bernardino, would say only that “a lot of circumstances are being explored” for her defense.

He added that Coffman finds the threat of a death sentence “chilling, frightening and hard to avoid thinking about.”

Weighty Evidence

The evidence against the two is considerable in both counties.

They were arrested Nov. 14, two days after the Murray killing, as they got off a dial-a-ride minibus in the Big Bear area, where they had checked into a motel. Coffman was carrying a purse identified as Murray’s, containing Murray’s credit cards and an earring that matched one found on the victim.

A Huntington Inn motel clerk has also identified Coffman as the woman who registered there the night of Nov. 12, using Murray’s name and her credit card.

“When Coffman signed into Room 307, she knew Murray was going to die,” Toohey alleged.

Murray had been abducted from her job at Prime Cleaners shortly before she was due to end her shift at 6:30 p.m.

At about the time Murray was being abducted, San Bernardino County officials were in Laguna Niguel, where a checkbook bearing Novis’ name had been found. Also found in the dumpster was identification from Marlow and Coffman.

Body Found at Motel

Murray’s body was found the next morning by a motel employee. She had been strangled, medical evidence showed at this week’s preliminary hearing. Also, her head had been submerged in a bathtub.

Shortly after that, evidence indicated, Marlow and Coffman stayed at the Compri Motel in San Bernardino. Found inside the motel room was stationery with Lynel Murray’s name written several times. Toohey said Coffman had been practicing Murray’s signature so she could forge her name when using stolen credit cards.

Novis’ car was found in the brush near Santa’s Village, near the Big Bear Lake resort where the two were arrested. Discarded clothing found in the area included a pair of pants with handcuffs. The pants were traced to a Huntington Beach man who had taken them to the cleaners where Murray worked.

Judge Mock ordered Marlow and Coffman to be arraigned in Superior Court on Oct. 1. But because the two are scheduled for trial in San Bernardino in January, Orange County prosecutor Toohey said the couple would not be tried in Orange County until after that.

“We’ve got a very good, cooperative arrangement with authorities in San Bernardino,” he said. “The couple were arrested there, and (the San Bernardino) murder occurred first.”

Separate Trials Requested

Lawyers for Marlow and Coffman have asked that their clients be tried separately in San Bernardino and are expected to seek separate trials in Orange County. Toohey said he will oppose that motion.

Coffman apparently met Marlow when she was in jail in San Bernardino on a drug charge on April 5, 1986. Her 7-year-old son lives with her former husband.

Marlow grew up in Kentucky. Shortly after coming to California, he was convicted of robbery and sent to Folsom Prison for three years. When he met Coffman, Marlow was being held in San Bernardino County Jail on suspicion of stealing his estranged wife’s car, but was released.