George Marecek, convicted murderer, infiltrates Bergdahl hearing
The Washington Post reports that George Marecek, former Special Forces colonel who was convicted of murdering his wife in 1991, made an appearance at the Bergdahl sentencing hearing last week;
An apparent security lapse enabled a convicted murderer to access Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s sentencing hearing last week where the individual made threatening remarks about the former Taliban prisoner, who has pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.
George Marecek, 85, was only a few feet from Bergdahl on Wednesday when he turned to another individual seated in the courtroom gallery and said: “I’ll be glad when this crap is over. I got my firing squad standing by.” Marecek’s comment was overheard by a Washington Post reporter. Bergdahl’s attorneys overheard Marecek make other threatening statements and alerted the prosecution, who in turn notified authorities.
The Army has refused to answer questions about the incident, which alarmed court officers and triggered a security alert at this sprawling military complex outside of Fayetteville, N.C., according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter. They spoke on the condition of anonymity citing the extreme sensitivity surrounding Bergdahl’s legal proceedings.
Marecek was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran with a Distinguished Service Cross and a Silver Star. He was convicted of bludgeoning and drowning his wife, Viparet Marecek, at a Fort Fisher, North Carolina military recreation area spot on the Cape Fear River in 1991 while they were celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary. He was sentenced to thirty years in prison, but he was paroled in 2003.
Thanks to Chief Tango for the link.
Category: Politics
Well, that’s a bizarre twist. A question comes up, though. If he was paroled then why can’t he attend the hearing? If you are sentenced to prison for a felony are you forever barred from entering a Post?
A paid provocateur to interfere with the sentencing?
^^^this^^^ was my first thought. Can the legal minds here answer, will Bowe’s attorneys be able to make anything of this?
The trick would be to show that it was some kind of “unlawful pretrial punishment”…which means they’d have to show that the government, or the leadership, connived in it, and had “punitive intent.”
That would be a little hard to do, but yes, they could try it.
(Oh, and the consequences would be sentence credit, i.e., time taken off the sentence.)
lifers in prison seek out and abuse pedophiles.
This could simply be a case of an angry disgraced man seeking to establish that there are things walking around that are beneath him.
Glad to see the Criminal Justice system is working. 30 years and he is out in less than 15. Bravo!
He only served 3 years for 2nd Degree Murder.
Something is not right…
He only served 3 years for 2nd Degree Murder.
Something is not right.
You can say that again!
3 YEARS!!!! WHAT!?!? He murdered his wife, beat her to death!
Yeah…I’m now A “Mother” Pat and not A “Nother” Pat..
I remembered watching the story about Colonel Marecek and his wife on CBS’s 48 Hours and was convinced he did kill her because of all the evidence surrounding the case.
Was surprised he was released in 2003 because of good behavior even though his sentence for 2nd Degree murder was 15-30 years.
Also learned something new today: That a Felon in North Carolina can have their Voting rights restored after they have completed their sentence and probation. Colonel Marecek has been a registered Voter in North Carolina since 2004:
https://voterrecords.com/voter/44568368/george-marecek
And now this. One would think Marecek would want to keep a low profile since his case was highly publized. Am guessing he thinks he is still in the Army (or has not moved on after his retirement, i.e. stuck in a timezone) based on him showing up at the trial and using poor judgment on making that comment.
He just now earned another 15 minutes of fame…and the story of him killing his wife will be replayed once again.
So sad.
Having one’s civil rights restored after satisfying the condition of sentencing, probation etc… is not that uncommon. In Louisiana, rights are restored automatically after ten years following the end of sentence served. I thin for murders it is nineteen years. I may be mistaken on that, although I did look it up once.
Thanks, WWiT.
What is surprising is that Marecek was released in 2003 and his probation ended in 2005, yet he became a registered voter in 2004.
https://www2.ncdps.gov/div/RP/Misdemeanant%20and%20Ex-Felon%20Voting%20Guide%202015.pdf
Yeah, based on the above document, it seems he should’ve been finished with everything before being able to vote.
Just as I thought: Maracek STILL has not let go of the Army or moved foreward. He IS still stuck in a timezone based on what I read (see below). He is Retired, now a civilian, but yet for some reason, he showed up at the hearing wearing his military uniform. Why? And furthermore, even though he was trialed in a civilian court, was he allowed to retain his Retired Miltary ID card as well as privaledges? Please read what I extracted from a newspaper:
“Maracek did arrived at Fort Bragg wearing an Army combat uniform outfitted with his rank and Special Forces insignia. In the courtroom he clutched a tightly shaped green beret.
Those attending the proceedings must pass through metal detectors and face additional scans from military police via handheld metal detector wands. The media’s movement also is tightly controlled.
Marecek, as a military retiree, can access the base and park his car in front of the courthouse, presenting just his ID card. While those visiting Fort Bragg should have their identification cards electronically scanned and run through a criminal records database, a former military police officer at the base told The Post that the ID scanners often don’t function properly, so the gate guards simply check to ensure the ID cards are not expired.”
Geez … will the drama never cease?
12 years for brutally murdering your wife? Seriously? I’d say unbelievable, but it’s far too believable.
Mason, well, if you think about it, OJ received Zero years for murdering his Ex-Wife and her acquaintance…
Did I tell you that after his 1995 acquittal, murder was declared legal in California?
(sarc)
No, no. Murder is still illegal. Double murder is legal.
That sounds like the ultimate “no sh!tter” story.
Speaking of murder and Special Forces:
The Navy is investigating two Navy SEALs for the strangling death of a Green Beret:
http://nypost.com/2017/10/29/navy-investigating-2-seals-for-strangling-death-of-green-beret/
You can’t make this stuff up…
SEALS going to the pen is becoming a habit. Wonder of they like balls on their noses?
I see what you did there.
Whoa. Murder?
I remember jumpimg on Maracek DZ at Camp McKall. Named for a hero, now he’s a murderer?
Life comes at you fast.
(or maybe slow…)
He’s fucking 85 years old. Pretty sure he is far from threatening in appearance. Probably a bit senile to go along with his penchant for violence in his past.
That being said NO one should be that stupid to make remarks like that in a court room.
If he ends up going back inside he’d be a perfect cellmate for Buttblast.
Sentenced to thirty and he does only 12?
And we’re expecting justice be dealt to Burdahl?
Actually, he only did 3 years behind bars.
Again, something is just not right…
You know? A more appropriate sentence would be like this:
“George Maracek, this Court sentences you to hang by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
Fucker killed his wife. He has no business breathing the same air I do. To hell wih him.
There’s a lot of folks right here on this website that believe Bergdahl ought to get a capital punishment outcome…
Maracek just voiced that same opinion in the wrong place…
Problem is, someone should have gently explained to him this shit falls under the category of, “Really Bad Stupid Fucking Ideas.”
Yup. In fact, I’m one of those folks. But please…make it a hanging. Firing squad is too dignified for this turd.
Uh, your link is messed up. Washington Post story link goes to “murderpedia”.
I was stationed at Camp Lejeune when he was arrested and most people at the time did not think he was guilty. There is a lot more to the story (I am not saying he is innocent) and lots of conflicting evidence involving spies, lovers, etc.
He is a very interesting character who survived Nazi internment as a child, 36 years in the Army with much of it in Special Forces, he is highly decorated for valor, and ended up marrying his cousin.
His life as a concentration camp survivor, hero, muderer, and now a retired COL activist would make an interesting movie.
Given Hollywood’s penchant for sequels, would they call it Fatal Vision II?
That’s just, just, ….
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