CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Charleston man wanted for the murder of woman last weekend is now in police custody.
Charleston Police said Marlon “Ice” Dixon, 37, was arrested Thursday after a warrant was issued for him.
Charleston Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said Branda Basham, 22, of Charleston, was shot three times. Her body was found along railroad tracks near Madison Street on the city’s West Side last Saturday morning.
Police said Basham was a police informant and information she gave them about Dixon led to a criminal indictment on drug charges and that’s why he shot her according to the criminal complaint.
Cooper quickly named Dixon as a person of interest in the case. Dixon was wanted on an outstanding heroin charge, but also wanted for questioning in Basham’s death. Investigators urged Dixon to turn himself in, though new information led to the murder charge against Dixon by Thursday.
Police said they’ve spoken to several witnesses who have connected Dixon with Basham in the hours before her murder. Blood was also found in a doorknob Dixon had used and a pair of tennis shoes. Another witness said Dixon told them Basham was killed because she wore a wire.
Dixon has taunted police with postings on Facebook in recent days. He’s even texted some detectives. Cooper said that doesn’t add any “fuel to the fire” for police. He was arraigned late Thursday evening on the first-degree murder charge. He’s being housed in the South Central Regional Jail without bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 24.
Basham was buried Thursday.