A Kentucky man was arrested over the weekend after placing Halloween decorations in his front yard that depicted fake bodies labeled with titles of local government officials.
According to WKYT-TV, a 58-year-old Powell County man named Stephan Marcum was taken into custody Saturday after being accused of terroristic threatening.
People passing by the man’s home in the community of Stanton saw a Halloween display they found rather haunting.
Commonwealth Attorney Miranda King reported the scene to the Kentucky State Police.
The decorations included body bags marked with the titles of local officials, although no names were on the effigies.
According to an arrest citation, Marcum was taken into custody not long after.
“This is something you just don’t see every day,” Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes, whose title was on one of the bags, told WKYT.
Ky. man arrested after ‘threatening’ ‘Halloween decoration’ display: https://t.co/0BcOllU2dZ pic.twitter.com/GmLti6xY3k
— WKYT (@WKYT) October 7, 2025
Even though Barnes was not named in the display, he said he was bothered.
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“At first I didn’t know what to think about it because I actually drove by and [saw] it in his yard and I’m thinking, you know, ‘Wow, you know, that’s kinda harsh,’” Barnes said.
Barnes said he has known Marcum for decades.
The judge told WKYT he views Marcum as someone who can be “a good person,” and was confused by the Halloween display.
University of Kentucky Political Science Associate Professor Stephen Voss told WKYT that Marcum’s display was not protected by the First Amendment.
“If you’re actively threatening someone in a terrorizing way, that may not be covered by the general right to free expression,” Voss said.
“I think we’re seeing a little bit less tolerance for violent communication or violent imagery because there seems to be a greater risk people will enact it or carry it out,” he added.
WKYT reported that Marcum was held at the Powell County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond.
Police said the Halloween decorations were collected and taken to a nearby Kentucky State Police station.
In a news release Tuesday, the Kentucky State Police said it had launched an investigation into the perceived threats directed toward the government officials.
“The initial investigation indicates that Stephan Marcum, 58 years old, from Stanton, Kentucky, placed several items appearing to be Halloween decorations in his yard. However, closer inspection of the items indicated a perceived threat toward several individuals who serve as government officials in Powell County,” the statement read.
Marcum was charged with third-degree terroristic threatening and intimidating a witness in the legal process.
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