Body of Martin County man found in tent

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

INEZ — Officials are awaiting autopsy results of the body of a Martin County man found in a tent on Buck Creek Hill Sept. 9.The man, Ryan Jason Marcum, 36, of Albert Pinson Drive in Inez, had been dead for approximately a week at the time his body was discovered, according to Martin County Coroner Chris Todd.“Someone called in and said they found a body, and I went there, unzipped the tent, and he was right,” Todd said. “It looked like he had been there for about a week or so. He did have a gunshot wound.”Todd said they are unsure whether Marcum was a homicide victim or the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. They are awaiting the results of the preliminary autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.“He was shot in the chest, and a Taurus handgun was found inside the tent,” Todd said. “It was found under his right leg above his ankle.”Todd said he called Kentucky State Police and that they are working together to solve the case.“He was in a tent on the flat coming off Buck Creek Hill toward Inez, on the left, and I could really have used a four-wheel drive to get to him,” Todd said. “It’s hard to get up hills or hollows, and in the winter time, hard to get to Frankfort or Louisville in the snow to transport a body,” Todd said. “I had to drag him down to the road to get him out of there. I try to do a good job and get to calls fast for the families.”Todd said that the person who called about the body did later show up to talk to KSP when officers arrived at the scene.“I also want to thank the rescue squad and Warfield Fire for their help and also Inez Fire Dept. for loaning me some flood lights,” Todd said. “We are hoping to get the results of the preliminary autopsy back soon.”