Death remains mystery

[thedrifter]

Death remains mystery
January 11,2004
ROSELEE PAPANDREA
DAILY NEWS STAFF

While James Taulbee's family laid him to rest at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, the Onslow County Sheriff's Department continued to investigate the retired Marine's death.

Sheriff Ed Brown has released few details about the slaying of the 47-year-old Ohio native who was found dead in his home in Aragona Village on Monday from two gunshot wounds to the head. It's a case that left several neighbors in the quiet cul-de-sac concerned for their safety. Taulbee was found by his wife, Zenaida Taulbee, at about 7:45 p.m. when she came home from work. The Sheriff's Department was called to the residence at 107 Chestnut Court shortly after.

All Brown will say about the homicide is that his office is continuing to follow up on tips and examine evidence related to the shooting.

Telephone records subpoenaed

Search warrants filed at the Onslow County Courthouse indicate that Sprint and U.S. Cellular phone records from Nov. 1 to Jan. 7 were subpoenaed. Investigators also were told by a neighbor that a white man was seen arguing with Taulbee at his home within six hours of his death, according to the warrants.

Taulbee retired from the Marine Corps as a master sergeant Aug. 31, 2002, after serving 25 years. He was a small computer systems specialist attached to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, according to the Camp Lejeune public affairs office.

Taulbee, who was spending some of his free time working on his sailboat, had two children, Justin and Lydia, who live in Dayton, Ohio.

He retired from the military with a host of awards and medals, including the National Defense Service medal with two stars, Sea Service Deployment medal, joint service achievement medal, a meritorious unit commendation, a joint meritorious unit award and multiple good conduct medals, according to public affairs.

Marines who have worked with Taulbee in the past were shocked to hear of his death, said Deane Lipscomb, a chief warrant officer stationed in Kansas City who worked with Taulbee when they were both stationed in Kansas City in the early 1990s and then again at Camp Lejeune in the late '90s.

"Most everyone is saying that there is no way Jim would have been involved in anything that would have put him or his wife in any danger, and that he must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time such as interrupting a robbery," Lipscomb said in an e-mail.

Taulbee, who was described as "super nice" and a quiet Marine, left a positive impression with a lot of Marines he came in contact with.

"He was ethical, trustworthy and dedicated to his wife," Lipscomb said. "His character was impeccable. I don't know anyone that ever knew Jim that would have anything negative to say about him."

When Taulbee was a gunnery sergeant, he worked for Marine Maj. Dan Kulp from November 1997 to July 1999. Kulp and Taulbee worked sided by side, their desks just inches apart.

Kulp, who is an information systems manager stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., said that words seem inadequate when it comes to describing the type of person he knew Taulbee to be.

"I can't say enough good things about Jim, as a Marine or as a person," Kulp said in an e-mail. "Perhaps the highest praise one Marine can give another is he accomplished his mission and took care of his personnel. Jim did just that. I could always count on him to handle any task that I gave him.

"He was a caring person who took a genuine interest in the well being of the Marines assigned to the section. I didn't know much about his personal life, but it was easy to tell that he was a good husband and father."

Kulp is still grappling with Taulbee's death.

"He certainly deserved better than this," Kulp said.


Eric Steinkopff contributed to this report. Contact Roselee Papandrea at rpapandrea@jdnews.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 238.

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Sempers,

Roger