Joel Culpepper of Bear arrested on charges of murdering his girlfriend

BEAR — On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, around 12:50 a.m., patrol officers responded to the 1700 block of Barbara Circle in Waterford Trailer Park for a check on the welfare of a male subject, later identified as 66-year-old Joel Culpepper of Bear, who was possibly suicidal. Officers responded to the area and located Joel walking through the neighborhood, where they were able to take him into custody.

Upon returning to Joel’s residence, where he lived with his girlfriend, 63-year-old Maryann Martin, officers found Maryann unconscious. Despite their attempts to perform life-saving measures, she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives from the Division’s Major Crimes Squad and Evidence Detection Squad responded to the scene to assume the investigation.

Joel was transported to a local hospital for treatment, released, and then transported to the New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with one count of murder in the first degree and one count of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.

Joel was arraigned by the Justice of The Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,060,000.00 cash bail.