Ax murder suspect goes on trial

Jury selection began Monday in Gwinnett County the trial for a man accused in the ax slaying of his girlfriend on the eve of Valentine’s Day 2008.

Shannon Marlow, 34, is charged with two counts of murder, aggravated assault and theft by receiving in the death of 47-year-old Patricia Rabold. Marlow allegedly bashed his girlfriend in the head with an ax at her home in Norcross. He then went on a 20-hour crack binge before returning to Rabold’s home, according to police.

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AJC file

Shannon Marlow at a court proceeding last year.

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SWAT officers found Marlow hiding in the attic after trying for several hours to coax him outside.

Court records show Marlow was diagnosed as schizophrenic and that by age 18 he had been in and out of psychiatric treatment centers. At a preliminary hearing for Marlow last year, a Gwinnett County police detective testified that Marlow was in a “state of paranoia” when he attacked Rabold. Marlow reportedly told police he thought Rabold and another man in the house were trying to kill him.