MADERA COUNTY – A husband and wife are now in jail in connection with the death of a North Fork man.
Sheriff John Anderson announced today that the body recovered in North Fork on Friday, Sept. 6, has been positively identified as 29-year-old Christopher Garrity, who reportedly went missing two weeks ago.
Garrity’s brother and sister-in-law are now both behind bars in connection with his death.
Last Thursday night, sheriff’s detectives took Chris Garrity’s brother, Marc McMurrain, 35, into custody for the disappearance. Based on evidence gathered, detectives booked McMurrain on suspicion of killing Chris.
Early Friday morning, detectives, along with Search & Rescue K9 teams, found Christopher Garrity’s remains near their shared home on Willow Creek Drive.
Later that night, detectives arrested Marc’s wife, Jennifer Patricia McMurrain, 32, who also goes by the names Patricia Lynn Moore, and Jennifer Patricia Moore. She was booked into Madera County Department of Corrections on suspicion of accessory to murder.
Both Marc and Jennifer McMurrain appeared in Superior Court in Madera today. He was arraigned on charges of murder with the special allegation of having “personally and intentionally” discharged a shotgun. The judge also cited his prior serious felony of first degree burglary in March of 2000 as he raised his bail from $1 million to $2 million.
Jennifer McMurrain was charged as an accessory to murder. Both pleaded not guilty, and the judge set Sept. 20 as the date for their preliminary hearing.
The judge left Jennifer McMurrain’s bail set at $1 million and set a bail review hearing for Sept. 11.
Details surrounding the method and motive for this murder are not being released by the Sheriff’s Office at this time.
The case remains under investigation.
