Family Of Slain Sacramento County Animal Control Officer Speaks Out

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - The man who killed a Sacramento County animal control officer back in 2012 has been found guilty. Joseph Corey could now spend the rest of his life in jail.

"I hope he suffers for the rest of his life, because he's done that to our family," said Charlotte Marcum-Rush, the mother of the victim.

Corey killed Roy Marcum by shooting through the door of a home that he was being evicted from in Galt.

Marcum's family was in court when the verdict was read, and tonight, Marcum's mother sat down with CBS13.

Marcum left the animal control building one rainy morning in November, 2012 and would never return. He was killed just doing his job. Nearly two years later, his mother tells us while she's glad for today's verdict, the pain of losing her son never goes away.

"…tears you apart and your world is turned upside down," said Charlotte Marcum-Rush.

Nearly two years ago, Marcum-Rush got the news that her son was killed on the job.

"Don't let anybody tell you time with time it heals. Time does not heal all things, especially when you have a child taken from you," she said.

Marcum was an animal control officer with Sacramento County and one of four boys. Marcum-Rush says even as a child, his love and passion for keeping animals safe was evident.

"They would bring home strays and hurt animals, we'd heal them up and give them back or we'd keep them," she said.

On his last day on the job, Marcum was called to the home of Joseph Francis Corey who was being evicted and Marcum was there to help him with his dogs. Corey saw Marcum's uniform and fired through the door, killing him. In court, Corey appeared calm.

"He had this blank look on his face, like um, why am I here?" said Marcum-Rush.

On Thursday, a jury found Corey guilty of first-degree murder. Marcum-Rush says it's not exactly a happy ending.

"His family's lost, his children's lost, and our family is desperately lost. And there's no happy ending to anything," said Marcum-Rush.

The family is still hurting. His 17-year-old daughter, Jackie, shared this letter with CBS13:
"When the one person you need is ripped apart from you it hurts....

"...when they are gone you realize you need them more than you thought."

Marcum-Rush agrees.

"You might be able to move on and do things, but you're still going to have that empty spot," she said.

Corey will be sentenced on December 12. He will likely be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Before Marcum's death he pushed hard for Sacramento County Animal Control personnel to get bullet-proof vests for officers. Now, they don't head out to the field without them.

The county bought vests for all 12 officers one month after the 2012 shooting. Officers also ask for backup if they don't feel comfortable knocking on a door.

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