In a rather chilling turn of events, a Kentucky resident found himself in hot water over a Halloween display that many deemed morbidly artistic. Stephan Marcum, 58, was arrested this past weekend for allegedly engaging in terroristic threatening, after he decorated his front yard with fake bodies bearing the titles of local government officials.
As reported by WKYT-TV, the eerie display caught the attention of passersby in Stanton, leading Commonwealth Attorney Miranda King to alert the Kentucky State Police.
The decorations were notably unsettling, featuring body bags with the titles of local officials but notably lacking any personal identifiers. The arrest citation indicates that Marcum’s holding took place shortly thereafter.
âYou donât see this kind of thing every day,â commented Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes, whose title was featured among the decorations, when interviewed by WKYT.
Ky. man arrested after âthreateningâ âHalloween decorationâ display: https://t.co/0BcOllU2dZ pic.twitter.com/GmLti6xY3k
â WKYT (@WKYT) October 7, 2025
Although Barnes wasn’t directly referenced, he confessed to feeling unsettled by the display. “Initially, my thoughts were, âWow, that’s quite harsh,â as I drove past,â Barnes recounted, acknowledging a long-standing familiarity with Marcum.
Despite this bizarre incident, Barnes expressed a belief in Marcumâs inherent goodness, acknowledging his confusion about the Halloween showcase.
Political Science Associate Professor Stephen Voss from the University of Kentucky weighed in, clarifying that Marcum’s display likely doesnât fall under the protective umbrella of the First Amendment. âWhen one engages in overtly threatening conduct that carries a semblance of terror, it steps outside the bounds of free expression,â Voss explained.
He further noted a societal shift toward reduced tolerance for violent imagery, suggesting that collective anxiety surrounding potential enactment of such threats is influencing public perception and legal responses.
WKYT reported that Marcum is currently held at the Powell County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond, while the police have collected the Halloween decorations for assessment at a nearby Kentucky State Police station.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the Kentucky State Police confirmed that they are investigating the perceived threats aimed at government personnel. The investigation suggests that what began as an unconventional Halloween decoration was interpreted as a serious menace toward local officials.
Marcum is facing charges of third-degree terroristic threatening and intimidating a witness within the legal framework.
This article originally appeared in The Western Journal.
