On September 12, 2020, police in Atlantic City responded to a 911 call on the 1500 block of Belfield Avenue and found 32-year-old Marketa Thorpe with a gunshot wound to her torso. Thorpe was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, and pronounced dead. An autopsy confirmed the gunshot wound as the cause of death and the death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators arrested 69-year-old Maximo Santiago shortly after the shooting as he attempted to flee in his vehicle. Santiago and Thorpe had a history, including a prior relationship that had ended. According to Santiago’s statements to detectives, the fatal encounter began after Thorpe, described as homeless, had slept on Santiago’s porch the night before; he said Thorpe allegedly tried to attack him with a plastic broom, that he went inside, loaded a rifle, came back out, and shot her once. Prosecutors noted Santiago admitted he could have stayed inside and called police. A grand jury indicted Santiago on murder and weapons charges in July 2021.

Did anyone in Atlantic City know Thorpe or have information about their relationship with Santiago?