 Gabrion Trail UnderwayMarvin Charles Gabrion could receive the death penalty if convicted of murdering 19-year-old Rachel Timmerman. Timmerman's body was found at the bottom of a small lake in Newaygo County in 1997. The lake is on federal property, which is why the federal government is prosecuting the case. The state of Michigan does not have the death penalty. Timmerman had accused Gabrion of raping her in August of 1996. She was last seen alive two days before she was to testify against him in June of 1997. Her baby daughter also vanished. Her body has never been found. U.S. Assistant Attorney Donald Davis says Gabrion killed Timmerman by handcuffing her, binding her with chains to cement blocks and tossing her into Oxford Lake. The prosecution claims similar blocks were found on Gabrion's property and keys to the chains that were on Timmerman were also found there. Defense lawyer Paul Mitchell told jurors prosecutors must prove Timmerman was killed on federal property. They also claim they'll prove the prosecution witnesses are unreliable and that before she disappeared Timmerman was seen with a man that no one has identified. The jury in the case is mostly female and is somewhat young. Testimony continues Tuesday PHOTO NEXT HOME If you have any information, Contact: Michigan State Police at: (231)652-1662 The FBI at: (616)456-5489 The Silent Observer at: (616)774-2345 Thank you for caring!
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