Marlon Jermaine Baldwin, a 47-year-old African American male, passed away on October 12, 2022, in Sanford, North Carolina. Baldwin was born on December 2, 1974, and spent his life in various locations, including Sanford, Fayetteville, and Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. He was known for his artistic talents, culinary skills, and work as a barber. Baldwin attended school in Cumberland County, New York, and the Lee County School System, eventually earning his GED.
He was deeply connected to his family and community, leaving behind his parents, siblings, and numerous other relatives and friends.
On the night of October 12, 2022, Baldwin was found with a gunshot wound in his back in the front yard of 609 Greenland Drive in Sanford. He was taken to UNC Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on October 13. The Sanford Police Department quickly launched an investigation into his death, leading to the arrest of DaCarlos Thermaine Johnson, a 44-year-old African American male, on October 17, 2022. Johnson was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Baldwin's death.
Johnson, who has a history of prior convictions, including possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of cocaine, common law robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon, claimed self-defense in the shooting of Baldwin. His attorney, Jonathan Silverman, filed a letter to the court on December 19, 2022, indicating that Johnson intended to use the defense of self-defense. The prosecution decided not to pursue a capital murder charge, meaning the death penalty was not an option in this case.
Johnson has been held without bond since his arrest, and his motion to reduce bond was denied by Lee County Superior Court Judge C. Winston Gilchrist on January 26, 2023. An administrative hearing in the case was set for August 19, 2024. The investigation into Baldwin's death and the subsequent legal proceedings have left a significant impact on the Sanford community, as they continue to seek justice for Marlon Jermaine Baldwin.
