Crime & Safety

A Year Later, Friends Hope for Justice for Sue Marcum

With suspect in Mexico, "We don't know how it can ever happen," friend says.

Tuesday marks the year anniversary of the death of Sue Marcum, the popular American University professor who was last October.

Marcum’s death was initially described by police as a robbery gone wrong. They who was found driving her stolen Jeep Cherokee with auto theft, but he was never charged with murder.

Police later named Marcum’s yoga teacher and Spanish instructor, Jorge Rueda Landeros, as a suspect in the case.

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Landeros , and police say there are no significant updates in the case.

Marcum’s friends will gather for dinner and spend the day remembering the woman they describe as outgoing and full of life, and a private memorial event has also been organized next month at American University. But those close to Marcum also say they are frustrated that the man who they believe killed their friend has not been brought to justice.

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“Her friends want to see justice for her, but we don’t know how it can ever happen,” said Cathy Vincent-Smith, a close friend of Marcum’s.

Vincent-Smith and others close to Marcum said they

Vincent-Smith said she and other friends will focus on honoring Marcum’s memory through a scholarship fund in her name at American University. “We’d like to keep that going and grow it — that’s something her friends can focus on,” Vincent-Smith said.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct link to Marcum's scholarship fund. We regret the error.


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