Murder trial rescheduled for November

• The trial of an Eaton man charged with murder has been rescheduled for Nov. 16.
• William Martz, now 60, is accused of killing Mark Gilland, 50, of Eaton, in January 2014.

MUNCIE – The trial of an Eaton man charged with murder has been rescheduled again, this time for Nov. 16.

William Verlin Martz, now 60, is accused of fatally shooting Mark Gilland on Jan. 11, 2014.

According to court documents, Gilland — who was 50 when he died — had allowed Martz to live, free on charge, in a camper on property owned by the shooting victim in the 500 block of East Race Street in Eaton.

Witnesses told police that Gilland intended to evict Martz from the property. An acquaintance said Martz had also vowed to kill Gilland if he followed through with those plans.

The body of the victim, who had been shot several times, was found in a pole barn on the Race Street property.

When Martz was later arrested at Muncie’s Red Carpet Inn, police found Gilland’s truck parked outside, and keys to the shooting victim’s truck and pole barn in the defendant’s motel room.

A murder conviction in Indiana carries a standard 55-year prison term.

Martz’s trial was at first set for July 7, 2014, but has since been rescheduled at least four times.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.