On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, around 12:50 a.m., patrol officers responded to the 1700 block of Barbara Circle in Waterford Trailer Park for a check on the welfare of a male subject, later identified as 66-year-old Joel Culpepper of Bear, who was possibly suicidal.
Officers responded to the area and located Joel walking through the neighborhood, where they were able to take him into custody. Upon returning to Joel’s residence, where he lived with his girlfriend, 63-year-old Maryann Martin, officers found Maryann unconscious. Despite their attempts to perform life-saving measures, she was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Detectives from the Division’s Major Crimes Squad and Evidence Detection Squad responded to the scene to assume the investigation.
Culpepper was transported to a local hospital for treatment, released, and then transported to the New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with One Count of Murder in the First Degree and one Count Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony
Culpepper was arraigned by the Justice of The Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,060,000.00 cash bail. Court records show that he will appear in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
Original article
New Castle County Police are conducting a death investigation in Bear Tuesday. Officers were called to a residence in the 1700 block of Barbara Circle in the Waterford Trailer Park just before 1:00 a.m. for reports of an assault.
Sources familiar with the incident tell First State Update that a woman was found gravely wounded by arriving officers and was later pronounced deceased at the scene. Sources later told FSU that the woman was found with serious injuries to the head, initially appearing to first responders that she was scalped the source said. Details regarding the cause of death have not been released by police.
Neighbors who contacted FSU said Detectives told them that they know who the suspect is but we’re not releasing those details until officials confirm that information
In a statement issued early Tuesday, the New Castle County Division of Police confirmed that the incident was domestic in nature and described it as isolated. Authorities assured the public that there is no broader threat.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have not disclosed additional details at this time. Residents and motorists in the area can expect an increased police presence and potential temporary road closures as the investigation continues according to police.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided by authorities as more information becomes available.
Correction: This article has been updated to clarify that the injury initially believed by first responders to be a scalping injury may have been the result of blunt force trauma.