Bio

Marcus Shrader III was born in 1941. Not much is known about his early life, but he grew up in a time when many families were dealing with the aftermath of World War II. His upbringing was marked by changes and challenges typical of the era.

As a young man, Shrader joined the United States Navy. He served as a corpsman, which is a medical specialist. During this time, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. It was here that he became part of the community of Jacksonville.

While in the Navy, Shrader faced personal issues. He had a troubled relationship with his family and became known for having a violent temper. His difficulties affected those around him, including his wife and children. At some point, he remarried and became a stepfather to children from his wife's previous relationship.

Murder Story

In January 1974, Marcus Shrader III kidnapped 23-year-old Ginger Rader in Onslow County, North Carolina. He forced her to assist him in robbing a bank. After the robbery, Shrader shot Rader and killed her.

On August 2, 1974, Shrader was involved in the abduction of 15-year-olds Karen Amabile and Cindy Howard. The two girls were approached by Shrader's stepdaughter, Debra Ann Brown, who offered them a ride. Shrader was waiting in his van. He handcuffed both girls, covered their mouths, and blinded them with tape. He then sexually assaulted and strangled the two girls, leaving their bodies in the Bear Creek area.

On August 16, 1974, Shrader kidnapped 19-year-old Cheryl Potter Boyd from a post office parking lot. He forced her to help him rob a nearby bank. After the robbery, he shot her in the face and left her body in a car behind a shopping center.

Shrader was arrested on August 18, 1974. He was charged with the murders of Boyd, Amabile, Howard, and Rader. He was convicted in December 1974 for the first-degree murder and kidnapping of Cheryl Potter Boyd. Shrader was sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment in 1976 after a Supreme Court ruling deemed the death penalty unconstitutional in North Carolina.

Shrader died in prison on July 10, 2007, from natural causes.