A man from southeast New Brunswick has confessed to the murder and dismemberment of his wife three years ago. Roger Hilyard Crossman, aged 65, entered a guilty plea in Moncton court last week for the second-degree murder of Marlene Cheryl Crossman and for improperly handling her body. The incident took place at their residence in Sackville on October 12, 2023.
Initially facing a trial for first-degree murder, which implies premeditation, Crossman admitted to causing fatal “sharp force injuries” to his wife’s chest and abdomen after 7 a.m. At the home on King Street, he proceeded to dismember and mutilate her by removing body parts including her head, hand, eye, breasts, and genitals.
Authorities had been called to the couple’s residence for a welfare check, where Marlene’s body was discovered later that day. Subsequently, a 62-year-old man turned himself in at the Antigonish RCMP detachment in Nova Scotia, approximately 230 kilometers away, and was taken into custody.
Following several delays, Crossman changed legal representation which led to trial postponements. He eventually pleaded guilty during a pre-trial conference in September and is awaiting sentencing on October 27. The offense of second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with a minimum of 10 years before parole eligibility.
Marlene Crossman, remembered as a cherished individual by her obituary, hailed from Amherst, N.S., and found joy in her two sons. Her former workplace, the Amherst Theatre, paid tribute to her on social media, describing her as a kind, loving, and strong presence that will be sorely missed.