Sweet Home, Ore. — A man has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend after her death was initially ruled a suicide last year, according to the Sweet Home Police Department.
Jerod L. Norman, 40, was arrested on January 13, 2025, and is facing charges of murder and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Mariah A. King, 30. The couple lived together in Sweet Home, at 2241 Nandina Street, where King died on July 18, 2024.
Initially, King’s death was believed to be a suicide. However, following a postmortem examination ordered by investigators, a “foreign object” was discovered inside her body, prompting further investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the nature of the foreign object, but they noted that its presence was inconsistent with the initial ruling. The revelation led to a deeper inquiry into the relationship between Norman and King, which ultimately resulted in the new charges.
The Sweet Home Police Department confirmed Norman’s arrest on January 13, following a lengthy investigation. The charges of murder and abuse of a corpse carry serious legal consequences, and Norman remains in custody as authorities continue their investigation.
The case has shocked the local community, and as the investigation progresses, more details are expected to surface regarding the events leading up to King’s death.
