Rest in peace, Marcus...

Finally, Marcus gets place to rest
Funeral, burial to take place Friday
Truong, Quan. Cincinnati Enquirer, May 2, 2007, pg. B1.

Nine months after 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel was bound and left to die in a closet, his remains will be laid to rest.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, 1500 Manchester Ave., Middletown.

The developmentally disabled boy, whose death both inspired and sickened thousands of Greater Cincinnati residents, will then be buried at Woodside Cemetery in Middletown.

Marcus' foster parents, Liz and David Carroll Jr., have been convicted of his murder and are serving life sentences.

But his charred remains - small enough to fit in a Dixie cup - have until now been kept at the Hamilton County Coroner's Office.

Prosecutor Joe Deters wrote last week to Marcus' biological mother, Donna Trevino of Middletown, asking her to claim the remains and give the boy the burial he deserved.

Deters addressed Trevino's refusal of his offer for a private burial.

He asked her, "Please, have the decency to make arrangements to have him put to rest."

Trevino's lawyer, Kevin Hughes, said it wasn't clear until Deters issued the letter where the remains were being held, and that there were complications with getting them released by Brown County, where Marcus' body was burned, and Clermont County, where his foster parents lived.

"I'm just glad there's finally closure and we can finally put this boy to peace," Hughes said.

Trevino could not be reached for comment Monday.

Hughes said Trevino had no car and had always wanted to lay Marcus to rest in Middletown, where she lives.

Trevino made arrangements Tuesday, with the help of Butler County Children's Services. The agency is paying for the burial and the funeral home will pay for the service, agency spokeswoman Denise Winkler said.

"It's been a heart-wrenching experience for the entire community and our staff, and we hope that this brings closure. We're there to assist the family and do everything we can," she said.