Marlawn J. Chaney, a 23-year-old man, was found shot to death on the front porch of a vacant house in the 1800 block of Newton Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, in September 2011. His death was described as an 'execution-style' shooting. At the time of his death, Chaney was embroiled in a murder case, not as a victim, but as a key witness who had recanted his testimony.
Chaney had previously been an accomplice and witness against Marlyn Standifer in the January 2007 shooting death of James Atkinson Sr. Chaney had testified that Standifer shot Atkinson over an unpaid drug debt. Based on this testimony, Standifer was convicted of murder. However, in a turn of events, Chaney later sent a letter to Standifer's attorney recanting his testimony and claiming that he was the one who had shot Atkinson, stating he needed to 'get myself right with God.'
This recantation led to Standifer being granted a new trial. Before that second trial could take place, Chaney, who had been released from custody on an unrelated robbery charge, was found murdered. Without his testimony, prosecutors were unable to secure a conviction, and a jury acquitted Standifer of Atkinson's murder.
The murder of Marlawn J. Chaney remains unsolved. No arrests have been publicly announced, and no suspects have been named in connection with his killing. His death left a critical void in the prosecution of a previous murder and added another layer of tragedy and mystery to the violent events.
