OR - Mariah King, 30, initially ruled suicide, Sweet Home, 18 July 2024

[Gemmie]

I could not find an initial article discussing Mariah's death or I'd post that first as a timeline. What I have is info that this supposed suicide turned into a murder case, and then took a bizarre turn after the autopsy findings. I'll start with her BF being charged with her murder on January 15, 2025.

On Tuesday, Jan.15, police in Sweet Home arrested Jerod L. Norman, 40, of Sweet Home, and charged him with murder and abuse of a corpse in connection to the death of his girlfriend, Mariah King, 30, the department said in a release.

The arrest came after a months-long investigation into King’s July 24, 2024, death at the home where she lived with Norman in Sweet Home.

Oregon Woman's July 2024 Death Was Initially Believed to Be Suicide. Why Is Her Boyfriend Now Charged with Murder?

Mariah King, 30, was found dead in July 2024 at the home she shared with her boyfriend, Jerod Norman, 40, say police.

people.com

 

[Gemmie]

Summarizing as this is behind a paywall.

Prosecutors revealed that the ME who performed the autopsy found an unspent bullet in Mariah's lower abdomen.

Court documents that spell out the charges remain under a court-ordered seal.

During the bail hearing today (9/5/25) new information was disclosed. An investigator thought the marks on her neck and the position of the rope near her body were inconsistent with suicide.

The autopsy found a complete, intact bullet in her abdominal cavity that had somehow gone through her vaginal wall into her abdomen and likely inserted after her death.

The Medical investigator testified that she did not ingest the bullet when the judge had said "I don’t like to participate, but I’m not understanding".

No fingerprints were found on the bullet.

When confronted about the bullet in her abdomen he replied to LE "Like she ate it?". He acknowledged that it was the same type used in his rifle.

Oregon murder case takes bizarre turn with autopsy finding

Until now, the circumstances surrounding the July 18, 2024, death of Mariah King, 30, have been closely held by authorities. Even court documents that spell out the charges against Jerod Norman, 40, remain under court-ordered seal.

www.oregonlive.com

 

[bombardier]

Summarizing as this is behind a paywall.

Prosecutors revealed that the ME who performed the autopsy found an unspent bullet in Mariah's lower abdomen.

Court documents that spell out the charges remain under a court-ordered seal.

During the bail hearing today (9/5/25) new information was disclosed. An investigator thought the marks on her neck and the position of the rope near her body were inconsistent with suicide.

The autopsy found a complete, intact bullet in her abdominal cavity that had somehow gone through her vaginal wall into her abdomen and likely inserted after her death.

The Medical investigator testified that she did not ingest the bullet when the judge had said "I don’t like to participate, but I’m not understanding".

No fingerprints were found on the bullet.

When confronted about the bullet in her abdomen he replied to LE "Like she ate it?". He acknowledged that it was the same type used in his rifle.

Oregon murder case takes bizarre turn with autopsy finding

Until now, the circumstances surrounding the July 18, 2024, death of Mariah King, 30, have been closely held by authorities. Even court documents that spell out the charges against Jerod Norman, 40, remain under court-ordered seal.

www.oregonlive.com

im a bit perplexed too...an unspent bullet is an unfired cartridge i.e. an unused round or an ejected misfire, right? (i am not a gun person). i won't get graphic but I cant understand anatomically how someone could get a bullet to manually breach the vaginal wall and enter the abdomen. that tissue is designed to expand. unless at trial they are going to argue he used a knife or some other sharp force weapon to perforate?? very, very, weird....
but then again, i have no better ideas as to how an unfired cartridge could make its way into the abdominopelvic cavity.

 

[Gemmie]

im a bit perplexed too...an unspent bullet is an unfired cartridge i.e. an unused round or an ejected misfire, right? (i am not a gun person). i won't get graphic but I cant understand anatomically how someone could get a bullet to manually breach the vaginal wall and enter the abdomen. that tissue is designed to expand. unless at trial they are going to argue he used a knife or some other sharp force weapon to perforate?? very, very, weird....
but then again, i have no better ideas as to how an unfired cartridge could make its way into the abdominopelvic cavity.

What came to mind to me was he inserted it through her cervix. But then I thought Nah... that'll just go into the womb. I'm not very versed on anatomy so Googled for it. Perhaps that's what he did. Although the womb, as you said, expands. It's not only very puzzling... it's a WEIRD thing to do to someone you've just murdered and they are still hanging!

It must have had some kind of meaning to him in order for him to do that.

the uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a person's lower abdomen, between the bladder and the rectum.

Anatomy of Female Pelvic Area | University Hospitals

www.uhhospitals.org

 

[bombardier]

What came to mind to me was he inserted it through her cervix. But then I thought Nah... that'll just go into the womb. I'm not very versed on anatomy so Googled for it. Perhaps that's what he did. Although the womb, as you said, expands. It's not only very puzzling... it's a WEIRD thing to do to someone you've just murdered and they are still hanging!

It must have had some kind of meaning to him in order for him to do that.

the uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a person's lower abdomen, between the bladder and the rectum.

Anatomy of Female Pelvic Area | University Hospitals

www.uhhospitals.org

ive had to do postmortem vaginal examinations/uterus removal, and i wanna say theres absolutely no way you can, from the outside using no sharp force tools, perforate the uterus. its probably 10x as thick as the vaginal wall, and very awkward to reach from the outside.
whole thing is weird. i need more info. did the examination find a defect in the vaginal wall or not? if so, histology could determine pre- or post-mortem (did it bleed? evidence of clot formation?) and the coroner wouldn't have to guess.
sadly, i have heard of perps shooting a victim up the vagina (ultimate form of sexual degradation and meant to embarrass). again im no gun guy but could it ever be possible to mistake a spent bullet for an unspent bullet if the force was entirely shielded by soft tissues, or is it out of the question?

 

[Gemmie]

ive had to do postmortem vaginal examinations/uterus removal, and i wanna say theres absolutely no way you can, from the outside using no sharp force tools, perforate the uterus. its probably 10x as thick as the vaginal wall, and very awkward to reach from the outside.
whole thing is weird. i need more info. did the examination find a defect in the vaginal wall or not? if so, histology could determine pre- or post-mortem (did it bleed? evidence of clot formation?) and the coroner wouldn't have to guess.
sadly, i have heard of perps shooting a victim up the vagina (ultimate form of sexual degradation and meant to embarrass). again im no gun guy but could it ever be possible to mistake a spent bullet for an unspent bullet if the force was entirely shielded by soft tissues, or is it out of the question?

What I've been wondering is is their wording "autopsy found an unspent bullet in the victim’s lower abdomen" said vaguely? Like... in that general area, without being specific as to exactly where in her lower abdomen it was found?

I have not seen anything about cuts that it could have been inserted through (through her vagina). Even so, it seems like such a difficult thing for a grown man's hand to be able to do.

And I'm no gun expert either, but I believe unspent means it was never fired. They found one in the Delphi case.

So, never fired, and in her lower abdomen had to have been placed there IMO.

What the ME said: "The unspent bullet had somehow gone through King’s vaginal wall into her abdomen and had likely been inserted into King after her death"

Oregon murder case takes bizarre turn with autopsy finding

Until now, the circumstances surrounding the July 18, 2024, death of Mariah King, 30, have been closely held by authorities. Even court documents that spell out the charges against Jerod Norman, 40, remain under court-ordered seal.

www.oregonlive.com

 

[Gemmie]

The article linked below has a long article about her life and people's perspectives about the BF. Apparently she's made suicidal threats in the past, and her family believes she was a DV victim.

Their mother, Kim Lapham, said she’s never been made aware of any physical violence between the couple, but she believes Norman was emotionally, psychologically and spiritually controlling.

“She would confide in me and I would tell her, ‘This isn’t good, this is some flags and you should probably think about getting away,’” Lapham said.

[...]

Just a few days before her death, Mariah apparently told her neighbor Shawn Jefferson that Norman said something so terrible to her that she couldn’t even repeat it. After they heard of her alleged suicide, Jefferson and his girlfriend, Matti Hook, questioned whether this mysterious “terrible thing” was somehow related to her death.

[Looks like the BF's 9 yo son was there when the father found her. If he murdered her, then it was beyond cruel, IMO, to have his young son with him when he opened the locked door knowing full well what he'd find]

Garcia is convinced Norman is innocent, she said, noting that her own son was with Mariah and Norman that evening and has talked to her about that night. Based on what she was told, it was both Norman and Bearett who opened the shed door and found Mariah there. Garcia said this has been a hard time for Bearett, who not only viewed Mariah like a mother, but also told Garcia that he didn’t know how to help his dad stop crying after Mariah died.

[...]

According to Garcia (The BF's ex and mother of his 9 yo) – who recounted what she heard from her son Bearett – at the time of Mariah’s death, Norman was out front while his father, David Norman, was out back barbecuing. Bearett had a friend over and the two were running back and forth between the two men. Mariah’s two kids, Libby, 8, and James, 5, were not there that day.

Later that evening, Lapham asked police to do a welfare check on her daughter. Potter said that Mariah answered their knock on the door, but she refused to open up and told them to go away. One hour and 30 minutes later, police responded to a call regarding a suicide at that same house.

Victim's death leaves grief, questions - The New Era

A young woman who has been described as a loving, outgoing, energetic and “super sweet” person left this…

www.sweethomenews.com

 

[bombardier]

Later that evening, Lapham asked police to do a welfare check on her daughter. Potter said that Mariah answered their knock on the door, but she refused to open up and told them to go away. One hour and 30 minutes later, police responded to a call regarding a suicide at that same house.

A welfare check due to what? And I understand many perps are not smart, but...murder and staging a suicide within 1.5 hours of police coming to your door (who knows if they'll return to try to get inside?) would be very, very stupid.

 

[Gemmie]

A welfare check due to what? And I understand many perps are not smart, but...murder and staging a suicide within 1.5 hours of police coming to your door (who knows if they'll return to try to get inside?) would be very, very stupid.

Totally agree. ESPECIALLY when his 9yo so, his son's friend, and his father was there BBQing. The investigation makes them think it wasn't suicide from the way the rope was (posted above). They also think the bullet was placed post-mortiem. But if the son was with his dad when she was found... just when did this murder, if it's really a murder, take place? I hope they got good interviews from those 3.

This is the part I'm not understanding in regards to how the article was written.

- The son "at the time of Mariah's death" was out front with his father, and his G'pa was BBQing in the backyard.

(What does that mean? At the time of Mariah's death". It makes it sound like the "suicide" was done while the kids were playing and the G'pa BBQing. That has to be bad wording. Likely meant "on the day of her death")

- Later her mother asked for a welfare check. Mariah was alive at that point.

- 90 minute later they are called out for a suicide.

==============================================================================
recounted what she heard from her son Bearett – at the time of Mariah’s death, Norman was out front while his father, David Norman, was out back barbecuing. Bearett had a friend over and the two were running back and forth between the two men.

Later that evening, Lapham asked police to do a welfare check on her daughter. Potter said that Mariah answered their knock on the door, but she refused to open up and told them to go away. One hour and 30 minutes later, police responded to a call regarding a suicide at that same house.

Victim's death leaves grief, questions - The New Era

A young woman who has been described as a loving, outgoing, energetic and “super sweet” person left this…

www.sweethomenews.com

 

[Gemmie]

Video from January offering up a bit more about Mariah, the circumstances, and her sister and a friend. His next court appearance on 3/22/25 was for a final resolution conference. Not sure of the outcome of that at this time.

Family holds vigil for Sweet Home mother of 2 after boyfriend charged with her murder

The family of Mariah King says they’re hopeful to see justice for the Sweet Home mother of two after her boyfriend was arrested last week and charged with her murder.

www.kptv.com

 

[Gemmie]

His trial is slated to begin Jan. 5, 2026.

Trial date set for Sweet Home murder case

Victim Mariah King was raised in Albany and was a cheerleader and varsity cheer captain at South Albany High School.

democratherald.com

 

[Gemmie]

Investigator details Mariah's injuries in the video below. Just before 10:00 he was asked about the cashing found in her lower abdomen. He said it went through the vaginal wall as we know. He was asked why he thought it was post mortem and he said because of the "small or insignificant amount of blood" in her underwear, and none in her jeans. No blood or blood transfer in her jeans. Nor was there a lot of blood in the abdomen or the vaginal area. Hence the conclusion that it was post mortem.

He goes on to say that not only would there be significant pain if the vaginal wall was punctured but also significant bleeding, which there wasn't.

MSN

 

[Spectrix]

A welfare check due to what? And I understand many perps are not smart, but...murder and staging a suicide within 1.5 hours of police coming to your door (who knows if they'll return to try to get inside?) would be very, very stupid.

The welfare check was due to Mariah's mum learning of her apparent suicidal behaviour that day -
From this article:

[Mariah] King had gone to a marijuana store that day where witnesses described her as “intoxicated and paranoid.” She had “scratch marks on her neck,” which she told a store employee were from a suicide attempt.
“I tried to stop myself from breathing,” Scholl said she told the store employee.

The employee knew King’s mother and told her of the interaction. King’s mother then called Sweet Home police to request a welfare check on her daughter, who lived at a house adjacent to the police station.

An officer went to the house, where he found Norman outside preparing to barbecue, according to Scholl. Scholl said the officer heard a woman “yelling ‘go away’ and saying that she was fine.”

King then poked her head out of the shop in the back and told the officer to leave, the lawyer said, adding that the officer later noted that King “was possibly angry and seemed disturbed” and “she probably used profanity during their interchange.”

Scholl said the police officer also noted that Norman was “seemingly embarrassed by what was happening, and it seemed like he was feeling down.”

Norman later discovered the shop door was locked so he got the key and opened the door to find King had died by suicide, Scholl said.

--------------

This case is very strange. I just can't see when the boyfriend had time to (allegedly) kill her, stage her body as a suicide and somehow insert a unfired round into her abdomen via her vagina. When he had his dad and his son & son's friend over for BBQ, And why would he do that?
They live right next to the police station too.

So many questions.