MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Sgt Chris Hewitt
Release Date: 07/06/12
Time: 1200
Release Number: 1
Murphys Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill Mother’s Caretaker
(Murphys, CA) On 07/07/12 at 6:49 PM Calaveras Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on the 4800 block of Darby Russell Road, Murphys, for a report of a verbal dispute. Upon investigating the incident the deputies learned that an argument erupted between Ray Turner (the reporting party/victim) and Arrestee Stephen Shennum (56) of Murphys, concerning financial matters between Turner and Marvyl Shennum, the arrestee’s 88 year old mother. Arrestee Shennum accused Turner, Ms. Shennum’s caregiver, of stealing money from Ms. Shennum. During the argument Arrestee Shennum allegedly threatened to kill Mr. Turner.
The deputies contacted Arrestee Shennum, who lives in a separate house on the same property. He showed signs of obvious intoxication. Acting on the request from both Mr. Turner and Ms. Shennum the deputies advised Arrestee Shennum not to re-enter his mother’s house or he would be arrested for trespassing. The deputies then left the residence.
Approximately 20 minutes later the deputies were called to return to the house after Arrestee Shennum again entered Mr. Turner’s and Ms. Shennum’s house, uninvited. He again issued death threats towards Mr. Turner. Both Mr. Turner and Ms. Shennum expressed fear for their safety and asked that he be arrested. Arrestee Shennum was re-contacted and arrested on the charges of 422 PC: Criminal Threats (felony), 602.5 PC: Trespass in a Dwelling (misdemeanor), and 415 (2) PC: Unreasonable Noise (misdemeanor). He was booked into the Calaveras County Jail. There was no evidence to suggest that Arrestee Shennum’s allegations against Mr. Turner of theft are valid.
