MARION COUNTY — Jurors have been sword and opening arguments are scheduled to begin this morning in the first-degree murder trial of a 30-year-old Salem woman stemming from the shooting death of her live-in boyfriend in 2021.

Christina Bartley has remained free on bond in the case that was brought against her more than a year after the death of 31-year-old Wesley Bivens in the Salem home the couple shared.

Bartley reportedly called 911 around 6:30 p.m. the evening of Thursday, April 15, to report her boyfriend was coming at her, and trying to hit her so she shot him.

She informed dispatch she would be waiting outside the Miles Lane home and had left the gun inside the house she and her boyfriend shared but was owned by her.

Upon arrival, deputies confirmed a black handgun was sitting on the “snack bar” counter in the kitchen of the home and Bivens was in the hallway of the home, deceased and on his back.

A bullet casing was found next to the victim on his right side and another casing was found on the bed, which was also to his right. The deputy noted a large amount of blood was behind the victim’s head and his arms were covering his chest.

While deputies were awaiting the arrival of the coroner, another man reportedly pulled into the driveway of the home and identified himself as the Bartleys father.

When asked how he knew something was going on at the home, the man reportedly told the deputy that he had access to security cameras.

The trial is expected to last five days.