Suspect in ricin investigation, assault held on $1 million bail

Published 3:18 pm Monday, June 8, 2009

EVERETT – The Everett man suspected of beating his wife with a dumbbell and possibly producing ricin was ordered held on $1 million bail today.

Jeffery C. Marble, 48, is behind bars for investigation of first-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment.

He allegedly hit his wife with a two-pound weight and held her for 5 1/2 hours, according to a court document.

Police believe he would have continued to hurt his wife if his 16-year-old son hadn’t returned to the family’s south Everett home, the document said.

The man’s wife later found suspicious items in the home, which led to an FBI investigation for ricin, a deadly toxin, officials said. The FBI searched the home and collected several pieces of evidence, which are being sent to the East Coast for analysis.

If the material is positively identified as ricin, Marble could face federal charges, officials said.