Killing of Jason Corbett

Jason Corbett originally lived in Limerick with his first wife Margaret "Mags" Fitzpatrick and their two children, Jack and Sarah. In November 2006, a few months after their daughter was born, Mags died unexpectedly after suffering a asthma attack. In April 2008, Corbett hired 31-year-old Knoxville, Tennessee native Molly Martens to come work as an au pair for the family. After the family moved to Lexington, North Carolina in April 2011, Corbett and Martens got married, and moved into a house at Panther's Creek Court in Wallburg. Jason paid US$390,000 for the house, and gave Molly US$80,000 to buy furnishings for it, as well as buying her a BMW SUV. He had also previously given his father-in-law US$49,000 as a contribution towards his wedding ceremony.{{Cite news |date=7 August 2017|title=Molly Martens Corbett will not testify at her murder trial in the US|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-corbett-will-not-testify-at-her-murder-trial-in-the-us/36007773.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-130352/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-corbett-will-not-testify-at-her-murder-trial-in-the-us/36007773.html|url-status=live }} Although Molly Martens had allegedly wanted to formally adopt Corbett's children so they could acquire American citizenship, Corbett instead applied for green cards while retaining his family's Irish passports. Corbett had also apparently planned to one day return to Ireland and open a pizza restaurant at Spanish Point, County Clare.

Corbett's older brother John would later remark how the issue around Molly adopting the children had caused friction in their relationship in the run up to his death.{{Cite news |date=17 August 2015|title=Corbett's second wife tried to adopt children|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbetts-second-wife-tried-to-adopt-children/31455762.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} John Corbett also stated that Jason had specify processed the children's legal resident status via his job, rather than through the Martens' family, due to concerns they would not be repatriated to Ireland in the event of his unexpected death.{{Cite news |date=1 September 2015|title=Corbett family upset at claim Jason planned to stay in US|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/corbett-family-upset-at-claim-jason-planned-to-stay-in-us/31492606.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} Court records later revealed how Molly Martens had in the summer of 2013 sought legal advice on her custody rights regarding the children in the event of a divorce, and had also spoke to a lawyer about her rights to the children in late 2014.{{Cite news |date=20 August 2015|title=Corbett children: Stepmother Molly was seeking legal advice about divorce and custody two years ago|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-children-stepmother-molly-was-seeking-legal-advice-about-divorce-and-custody-two-years-ago/31464552.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.17-132912/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-children-stepmother-molly-was-seeking-legal-advice-about-divorce-and-custody-two-years-ago/31464552.html|url-status=live }}

Although Corbett's family had initially approved of Molly Martens becoming romantically involved with Jason,{{Cite news |date=10 January 2016|title=Police files paint volatile nature of Molly Martens|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/police-files-paint-volatile-nature-of-molly-martens/34349705.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} they became increasingly concerned about Molly Martens' deceitful and erratic behavior during their relationship. Corbett's sister Tracey Lynch would later assert that Martens had a long history of lying, describing her as a fantasist who claimed amongst other things to have been an Olympic swimmer and to have previously fostered a young boy. Lynch also described how Martens had informed her she was bipolar and had allegedly experienced several miscarriages before she met Jason, as well as accusing Martens of self-harming and drinking alcoholic margaritas throughout the day before driving the children to appointments. Lynch also alleged that she discovered just before their wedding that Martens had told her friends that she had been pen pals with Jason's first wife Mags before she had died from cancer.

Lynch would later discover that Martens had been released from a psychiatric clinic in Georgia just before she travelled to meet Jason in 2008, and that she did not disclose her mental health history until a few weeks before they were married.{{Cite news |date=19 May 2018|title=Killer Molly prevented forensic tests with €5k industrial house clean|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/killer-molly-prevented-forensic-tests-with-5k-industrial-house-clean/36922976.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} Martens also lied to her new neighbours in Panther's Creek Court that Sarah was her biological daughter, even going so far to as giving a lengthy description of how difficult her labour had been whilst at a local Bible study group.{{Cite news |date=6 November 2023|title=Molly Martens claimed Sarah Corbett was her ‘biological child’ |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/molly-martens-claimed-sarah-corbett-was-her-biological-child-1522050|newspaper=Newstalk|language=en}} Lynch claimed that Martens had also secretly told the two children that Jason had actually killed her mother,{{Cite news |date=20 May 2018|title=Family anger after Molly Martens repeatedly told children that Jason killed their mother|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/family-anger-after-molly-martens-repeatedly-told-children-that-jason-killed-their-mother/36926352.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} an accusation that was later backed up by Sarah Corbett herself.{{Cite news |date=2 March 2025|title=The final months of Jason Corbett as told by his daughter: ‘I saw the fight drain out of Dad. He slumped in the doorway, looking defeated’|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/family/the-final-months-of-jason-corbett-as-told-by-his-daughter-i-saw-the-fight-drain-out-of-dad-he-slumped-in-the-doorway-looking-defeated/a567072159.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=2 March 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.03.02-112948/https://www.independent.ie/life/family/the-final-months-of-jason-corbett-as-told-by-his-daughter-i-saw-the-fight-drain-out-of-dad-he-slumped-in-the-doorway-looking-defeated/a567072159.html|url-status=live }}

Other examples cited in an affidavit later submitted by Lynch regarding Martens' alleged erratic behavior were her holding the face of a then 7-year-old Jack under a running kitchen faucet tap as punishment for splashing her with water, and an incident where Jack was punished for not calling her "Mom".{{Cite news |date=8 January 2016 |title='Molly just flipped and completely lost control at her wedding' - Jason Corbett's sister|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-just-flipped-and-completely-lost-control-at-her-wedding-jason-corbetts-sister/34345782.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en|archive-date=15 August 2023|archive-url=http://archive.today/2023.08.15-154917/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-just-flipped-and-completely-lost-control-at-her-wedding-jason-corbetts-sister/34345782.html|url-status=live }} Corbett family friend Lynn Shanahan likewise made allegations about Molly becoming angry for several days when Jack reminded her she was not his mother. Martens had also avoided telling her neighbors that Jack and Sarah were not her children, and became "enraged" when Jack informed them of the truth. Martens had also allegedly became highly agitated and screamed at Jason during their wedding banquet, after a guest who was allergic to egg whites had instead went to McDonald's for a meal. Another family friend asserted that a couple of days before he was killed, Corbett left a social function early after his wife had started fat-shaming him infront of several friends, adding that he was self conscious about his weight.{{Cite news |date=9 January 2016|title='It is heart-breaking to see the lack of respect they had for him and my parents' - Jason Corbett's family disgusted by lack of apology from the Martens|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/it-is-heart-breaking-to-see-the-lack-of-respect-they-had-for-him-and-my-parents-jason-corbetts-family-disgusted-by-lack-of-apology-from-the-martens/34348383.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.17-162029/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/it-is-heart-breaking-to-see-the-lack-of-respect-they-had-for-him-and-my-parents-jason-corbetts-family-disgusted-by-lack-of-apology-from-the-martens/34348383.html|url-status=live }} Corbett's sister would later identify this incident as the last straw that made up Jason's mind to return to Ireland without Molly.{{Cite news |date=18 May 2018|title=Jason Corbett had packed a bag to leave on night Molly Martens killed him|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/jason-corbett-had-packed-a-bag-to-leave-on-night-molly-martens-killed-him/36919810.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

On 2 August 2015, Thomas Martens placed a 911 call to emergency services at 3am to inform them that his son-in-law Jason Corbett was badly injured. Martens told the dispatcher that he had intervened in a fight between Corbett and his daughter, and he may have killed him.{{Cite news |date=18 August 2015|title=Jason Corbett's father-in-law told 911: 'I struck him with a baseball bat'|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/jason-corbetts-father-in-law-told-911-i-struck-him-with-a-baseball-bat/31458784.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}{{Cite news |date=22 February 2020 |title=Jason Corbett case: Woman fights for her brother's honor after brutal Davidson County, N.C. murder|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jason-corbett-death-woman-fights-for-her-brothers-honor-after-brutal-n-c-murder-killers-say-it-was-self-defense/|newspaper=CBS News|language=en}} Police responders who arrived at the house at Panther's Creek Court found Corbett unresponsive with serious head injuries, which would later prove fatal. Both Thomas and Molly Martens gave statements to the officers at the scene linking Jason's death to a "domestic disturbance".{{Cite news |date=23 August 2015|title=A troubled marriage and the trip back home to Ireland that never took place|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-troubled-marriage-and-the-trip-back-home-to-ireland-that-never-took-place/31470861.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

A few hours after being released from police custody, Molly Martens allegedly spent US$5,500 on having her house industrially cleaned of all traces of blood. Authorities then frustrated Martens' attempt to have Corbett cremated before his family arrived from Ireland, and she only permitted them access to his remains after they had first signed a legal agreement to pay the full costs of his funeral and the subsequent repatriation of his body to Ireland.{{Cite news |date=19 May 2018|title=Molly Martens spent $5,500 on industrial clean of blood stains, preventing forensic tests|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/molly-martens-spent-5500-on-industrial-clean-of-blood-stains-preventing-forensic-tests/36923471.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

In 2007, Jason Corbett had created a will naming his sister Tracey Lynch and her husband as the legal guardians of children should he suddenly pass away, and did not alter the will after he married Molly Martens. However, a few days after Corbett's death, Martens formally filed for custody of ten-year-old Jack and eight-year-old Sarah. When Corbett's family arrived in the United States they immediately launched a legal challenge, and on 20 August 2015 the authorities dismissed Martens's claim and formally handed over Jack and Sarah into the custody of Tracey Lynch, who promptly flew the two children back to Ireland via commercial airline.{{Cite news |date=20 August 2015|title=Molly Martens leaves courtroom in tears as judge rules final decision on custody dispute children|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/molly-martens-leaves-courtroom-in-tears-as-judge-rules-final-decision-on-custody-dispute-children/31465754.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}{{Cite news |date=21 August 2015|title=The children of Jason Corbett are back home in Ireland, says attorney for their stepmother Molly Martens Corbett|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-children-of-jason-corbett-are-back-home-in-ireland-says-attorney-for-their-stepmother-molly-martens-corbett/31468926.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

For several months after their repatriation, Martens posted photos of Corbett's children on Facebook, sometimes including a US phone number and email address, in the apparent hope they would get in touch with her.{{Cite news |date=28 August 2015|title='I was never the mom who was happy it was time for school again' - Jason Corbett wife's message to children|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/i-was-never-the-mom-who-was-happy-it-was-time-for-school-again-jason-corbett-wifes-message-to-children/31484463.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}{{Cite news |date= 9 August 2017|title=The two sides of Molly Martens Corbett|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/the-two-sides-of-molly-martens-corbett-1.3181655|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=http://archive.today/2023.12.04-231710/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/the-two-sides-of-molly-martens-corbett-1.3181655|url-status=live }} The Corbett family eventually sent a cease and desist letter to Molly Martens asking her to refrain from posting images of the children on social media. In response to Martens' uncle claiming in a radio interview that Jason Corbett had been seeking dual Irish-American citizenship for the children, the Corbett family released a statement describing the claims as "deluded propaganda", adding their brother had never discussed such plans with them in the run up to his death.{{Cite news |date=1 September 2015|title=Corbetts say Molly Martens Corbett claims are 'deluded'|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/corbetts-say-molly-martens-corbett-claims-are-deluded/31492328.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

In police interviews a few hours after Corbett's death, Tom Martens claimed he had been staying over at the Corbett's house when he was awoken by the sound of a disturbance in the master bedroom. He grabbed an aluminum baseball bat and rushed to bedroom, where he alleged Corbett was strangling his daughter Molly. After a struggle on the floor between the two men, Molly hit Corbett over the head with a paving stone, after which Tom Martens then hit Corbett with the baseball bat several times. During a separate interview, Molly Martens admitted to police that she had attempted to hit Jason over the head with a brick during the same incident at their home. In addition, Molly stated that there was a history of domestic violence in their marriage that resulted in her seeking medical assistance on several occasion, although she did not inform the police or tell the hospital staff how her injuries occurred. Molly Martens also accused her husband of being a heavy drinker, and that he was drunk when the fatal incident occurred a few hours earlier.{{Cite news |date= 19 September 2021|title=Revealed: Molly Martens' tearful interview with police following Jason Corbett killing|url=https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/courts/revealed-molly-martens-tearful-interview-with-police-following-jason-corbett-killing/40863514.html|newspaper=Sunday World|language=en}}

Four days after Corbett's death, his two children were interviewed by a social worker about their parents relationship. Transcripts of their sessions recorded Sarah saying he had anger management issues, while Jack claimed to have witnessed his father physically assaulting Molly on previous occasions. However, nine months later Jack renounced his previous statements in a follow up social worker session, asserting that Molly had infact coached him on what to say prior to being interviewed and she made up false stories about abusive behavior.

Investigating officers discovered evidence that Corbett had been planning to move back to Ireland permanently with his children on 21 August 2015, and had made preparations to transfer US$60,000 to his Irish bank account in advance of this. Detectives also determined that examination of the crime scene did not back up the Martens' assertion of a fight between Corbett and his father-in-law on the night in question, and lawyer's handling Corbett's estate had reported large amounts of money being transferred out of his US joint bank account in the months after his death.{{Cite news |date=9 January 2016|title=Slain Jason's concerns over wife Molly's spending habits|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/slain-jasons-concerns-over-wife-mollys-spending-habits/34348536.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

On 5 January 2016, Molly Martens Corbett and her father Thomas Martens were charged with second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter in relation to the death of Jason Corbett, after unsealed indictments revealed that a grand jury had determined that sufficient probable cause had been established.{{Cite news |date=5 January 2016|title=Jason Corbett killing: wife is charged with murder of dad of two|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/jason-corbett-killing-wife-is-charged-with-murder-of-dad-of-two/34335990.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} After having their mugshots taken, both of the accused were ordered by Davidson Superior Court to hand over their passports and not to attempt to contact Corbett's children in Ireland. They were then released on a bail bond of US$200,000 each to await trial.{{Cite news |date=5 January 2016|title=Mugshots of Molly Martens and father as they appear in court over Jason Corbett death|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mugshots-of-molly-martens-and-father-as-they-appear-in-court-over-jason-corbett-death/34339051.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

In July 2016, the Martens' legal team filed a defense motion to exclude from evidence Jack Corbett's earlier rebuttal interview, where he withdraw allegations that his father had physical abused Molly Martens Corbett, claiming the interview was "hearsay and unreliable".{{Cite news |date=13 Jul 2016|title=Molly Martens defence team: Children saw slain Jason Corbett 'punch and hit her'|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/molly-martens-defence-team-children-saw-slain-jason-corbett-punch-and-hit-her/34879674.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.17-164318/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/molly-martens-defence-team-children-saw-slain-jason-corbett-punch-and-hit-her/34879674.html|url-status=live }} During pre-trial hearings in early June 2017, Tracey Lynch testified that once she brought Jack Corbett back to Ireland he informed her that some of the information he gave in previous interviews with US social workers was untrue.{{Cite news |date=9 June 2017|title=Molly Martens Corbett appears in court on second day of pre-trial hearing|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-children-stepmother-molly-was-seeking-legal-advice-about-divorce-and-custody-two-years-ago/31464552.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-071227/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-corbett-appears-in-court-on-second-day-of-pre-trial-hearing/35809848.html|url-status=live }} Judge Lee eventually ruled the children's statements taken shortly after their father's death were inadmissible and therefore would not be allowed to be submitted as evidence.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2017|title=Ralph Riegel analysis: Legal argument crucial in what jury learned about Molly Martens' marriage|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/ralph-riegel-analysis-legal-argument-crucial-in-what-jury-learned-about-molly-martens-marriage/36015718.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-145912/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/ralph-riegel-analysis-legal-argument-crucial-in-what-jury-learned-about-molly-martens-marriage/36015718.html|url-status=live }} The following month, lawyer's acting on behalf of the Martens' filed a late pre-trial motion attempting to prevent the prosecution from asserting that Jason Corbett had a reputation for being a non-violent, easygoing person while presenting evidence to the jury.{{Cite news |date=15 July 2017|title=Molly Martens trial: Split in heart of Irish-American family at centre of murder case against widow|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-trial-split-in-heart-of-irish-american-family-at-centre-of-murder-case-against-widow/35933245.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-073054/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-trial-split-in-heart-of-irish-american-family-at-centre-of-murder-case-against-widow/35933245.html|url-status=live }}

The trial of Molly Corbett Martens and Thomas Martens began with jury selection on 17 July 2017 at the Davidson County Superior Court in Lexington, North Carolina before Judge David Lee.{{Cite news |date=17 July 2017|title=Wife's murder trial set to last over three weeks|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/wifes-murder-trial-set-to-last-over-three-weeks/35935928.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} Both of the accused entered formal pleas of not guilty to the second-degree murder of Jason Corbett, claiming they acted in self-defence.{{Cite news |date=17 July 2017|title='You alone will determine the truth' - Judge's words as murder trial of Jason Corbett opens with jury selection|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/you-alone-will-determine-the-truth-judges-words-as-murder-trial-of-jason-corbett-opens-with-jury-selection/35939585.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

On 25 July 2017, District Attorney Alan Martin described to the jury how Jason Corbett had such serious head injuries that his autopsy could not determine exactly how many times he has struck, adding that the post mortem exam did however detect traces of Trazodone in his blood steam. Although Corbett had never been prescribed this powerful sedative, medical records proved that his wife Molly had been issued a prescription for Trazodone three days before he died.{{Cite news |date=26 July 2017|title=Jason 'was so badly beaten pieces of skull fell out onto table|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/jason-was-so-badly-beaten-pieces-of-skull-fell-out-onto-table/35968638.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} D.A. Martin attested that while Corbett's dead body was found naked and covered in blood, both of the Martens' had no injuries or signs of trauma when police and paramedics interviewed them at the scene. Defence lawyer David Freedman, acting for Thomas Martens, countered that his client swung a baseball bat at Corbett in an effort to protect his daughter and himself, after he had discovered Corbett with his arm around her throat while saying: "I am going to kill her, I am going to kill her".{{Cite news |date=25 July 2017|title=Damage to Jason Corbett's skull so severe pathologist could not say how many times he was hit|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/damage-to-jason-corbetts-skull-so-severe-pathologist-could-not-say-how-many-times-he-was-hit/35967366.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-083932/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/damage-to-jason-corbetts-skull-so-severe-pathologist-could-not-say-how-many-times-he-was-hit/35967366.html|url-status=live }}

David Fritzche, who was the Corbett's next door neighbour, described to the court how he and Jason had mowed their lawns on the day before he died, before they sat down together to drink some beer around 3:30pm. Their wives joined them an hour later, and they continued drinking until about 8pm when Molly's parents arrived for a surprise weekend visit. According to Fritzche, Corbett had consumed seven beers, was in good humor and did not appear to be drunk when they parted company.{{Cite news |date=28 July 2017|title=Lawns, deckchairs and cold beers: Jason Corbett's final hours before the violence|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/lawns-deckchairs-and-cold-beers-jason-corbetts-final-hours-before-the-violence/35975675.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-101015/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/lawns-deckchairs-and-cold-beers-jason-corbetts-final-hours-before-the-violence/35975675.html|url-status=live }} Toxicological testing on Corbett's dead body would later record a blood alcohol level of 20 mg milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which was a quarter of the drink-driving limit for North Carolina.{{Cite news |date= 5 November 2023|title=Inside Molly Martens Corbett's plea deal|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/1105/1414670-martens-analysis/|newspaper=RTE News|language=en}}

Davidson County Emergency Call Centre agent Karen Capps, who had worked as an emergency call dispatcher for 16 years, testified that she took the 911 call on the night Jason Corbett was killed. After a recording of the entire call was played to the court, Capps remarked that Thomas Martens seemed "surprisingly calm" throughout the near 14 minute conversation, and that although he had allegedly performed over 400 exhausting CPR chest compressions while Molly shouted the count, he was not panting or gasping out of breath when he returned to the phone.{{Cite news |date=25 July 2017|title=Full Transcript: 'He’s bleeding all over and I may have killed him' - Murder trial hears Martens' 911 call|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/full-transcript-hes-bleeding-all-over-and-i-may-have-killed-him-murder-trial-hears-martens-911-call/35967705.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-092116/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/full-transcript-hes-bleeding-all-over-and-i-may-have-killed-him-murder-trial-hears-martens-911-call/35967705.html|url-status=live }} Doctor Craig Nelson, an associate pathologist for the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner's Office, described to the court how he had performed a post mortem examination on Corbett. Dr Nelson testified that although his skull was so badly shattered he could not precisely say how many times he was struck, in his estimates Corbett had suffered around 12 blows to the head. Autopsy reports also indicated Corbett had suffered blunt force trauma blows to his torso and arms. When photographs of Corbett's head injuries were displayed to the court, proceedings had to be paused briefly when a female jury became physically ill and had to leave the room.{{Cite news |date=25 July 2017|title=Martens trial paused after juror becomes ill when viewing photos of damage to Jason Corbett's skull|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-trial-paused-after-juror-becomes-ill-when-viewing-photos-of-damage-to-jason-corbetts-skull/35970776.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-094143/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-trial-paused-after-juror-becomes-ill-when-viewing-photos-of-damage-to-jason-corbetts-skull/35970776.html|url-status=live }}

Sheriff's Department Corporal Clayton Dagenhardt, who was the first officer to arrive at Corbett's house, described to the jury how blood was splattered on the walls, floor, bed, hallway and bedroom. Corporal Dagenhardt took photos of the crime scene on his cell phone, and after Corbett's body had been removed he helped to take his children outside into the care of Thomas Martens' wife. Nurse Katie Wingate-Scott attested that she had prescribed Trazodone to Molly Martens in 50mg doses on 30 July 2015, after she had complained of having trouble falling asleep, while Pharmacist James Hiatt confirmed that the prescription had been filled and collected.{{Cite news |date=27 July 2017|title=Police told children to 'keep eyes closed' as they passed death scene|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/police-told-children-to-keep-eyes-closed-as-they-passed-death-scene/35972290.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} Paramedics David Bent and Amanda Hackworth testified that they arrived at the Corbett residence less than 10 minutes after Thomas Martens had first called 911, and they moved Corbett to their ambulance so as to administer life saving treatment. While attaching ECG leads, Hackworth noticed that Corbett's skin felt remarkably cool, and when Bent checked he also determined that the body temperature was much lower than expected. No electrical signals from the heart were detected either, and at 3:24am they ceased efforts to revive Corbett.{{Cite news |date=27 July 2017|title=Jason Corbett's body 'appeared cool' when paramedics arrived at his home, trial hears|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/jason-corbetts-body-appeared-cool-when-paramedics-arrived-at-his-home-trial-hears/35974184.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-101014/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/jason-corbetts-body-appeared-cool-when-paramedics-arrived-at-his-home-trial-hears/35974184.htmll|url-status=live }} Describing Corbett's lack of body temperature as "alarming", Hackworth testified how she queried with officers at the scene how long the Martens' waited before calling 911, and was informed by Sergeant Barry Alphin that they claimed to have phoned for assistance as soon as he was injured.{{Cite news |date=28 July 2017|title=Molly Martens 'made crying noises but shed no tears' as Jason lay dead|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-made-crying-noises-but-shed-no-tears-as-jason-lay-dead/35975674.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-105549/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-made-crying-noises-but-shed-no-tears-as-jason-lay-dead/35975674.html|url-status=live }}

Crime scene examiner Lieutenant Frank Young explained to the court that when he arrived at Corbett's house, and was informed Molly had accused him of strangling her, he asked for permission to photograph her so as to record any injuries. After taking pictures from all angles, Lieutenant Young could not find evidence of any injuries, however he had to instruct Molly to stop rubbing and tugging at her neck while he took the images.{{Cite news |date=27 July 2017|title=Molly Martens had 'no injuries' after husband Jason Corbett killed and was told to stop rubbing her neck, trial hears|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-had-no-injuries-after-husband-jason-corbett-killed-and-was-told-to-stop-rubbing-her-neck-trial-hears/35974984.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=4 November 2023|archive-url= http://archive.today/2023.11.04-184216/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-had-no-injuries-after-husband-jason-corbett-killed-and-was-told-to-stop-rubbing-her-neck-trial-hears/35974984.html|url-status=live }} David Dillard, a former police officer, added that while Molly was sitting in his patrol car after the incident she was also rubbing her neck in a scrubbing motion, and that although she was making crying noises he did not observe any actual tears. Doctor Stuart James, an expert forensic scientist who performed bloodstain pattern analysis of the crime scene, testified that the first blows inflicted on Corbett could have occurred while he was laying in bed, as blood spatters were found inside the quilt and blood saturation marks were discovered inside the mattress. Dr James also added that blood spatters on the walls indicated Corbett suffered multiple blows as he was falling to the floor, while the direction of blood spatters discovered on the inside hem of Thomas Martens' boxer shorts indicated Corbett's head was on the floor when those blows were struck.{{Cite news |date=2 August 2017|title=Corbett 'may have suffered first blow from bat while in bed' - expert tells murder trial|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-may-have-suffered-first-blow-from-bat-while-in-bed-expert-tells-murder-trial/35991403.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-111213/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-may-have-suffered-first-blow-from-bat-while-in-bed-expert-tells-murder-trial/35991403.html|url-status=live }}

Joanne Lowry, who worked with Thomas Martens at the United States Department of Energy for several years, testified that before Jason and Molly's wedding in 2011, Martens expressed dislike for Jason and the friends he had invited over for the ceremony, describing them as rude and displaying very rowdy behavior. In another conversation two months before Corbett's death, Lowry claimed Martens had said to her: "That son-in-law, I hate him."{{Cite news |date=4 August 2017|title=Martens murder trial: Ex-FBI agent allegedly told co-worker he 'hated' son-in-law Jason, court hears|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-murder-trial-ex-fbi-agent-allegedly-told-co-worker-he-hated-son-in-law-jason-court-hears/35989680.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-111133/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-murder-trial-ex-fbi-agent-allegedly-told-co-worker-he-hated-son-in-law-jason-court-hears/35989680.html|url-status=live }} Corbett's sister Tracey Lynch told the court that Jason was homesick around the time of his death and had planned to move back to Ireland so that his son Jack could start high school there, and that Jason had mentioned returning over 12 months before he was killed.{{Cite news |date=4 August 2017|title='Jason wanted to take children back home', his sister tells trial|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/jason-wanted-to-take-children-back-home-his-sister-tells-trial/35999371.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

On 3 August 2017, at the conclusion of the prosecution's case, defence lawyers submitted a motion for the murder charges against the Martens' to be dismissed, however the judge ruled that that prima facie evidence had been established against both of the accused and directed that the jury should consider a verdict after submissions by the defence concluded.{{Cite news |date=3 August 2017|title=Judge dismisses application to strike out murder charges against Martens|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/judge-dismisses-application-to-strike-out-murder-charges-against-martens/35998786.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-124259/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/judge-dismisses-application-to-strike-out-murder-charges-against-martens/35998786.html|url-status=live }}

Taking the stand in his own defence, Thomas Martens asserted that on the night in question he was awoken by screaming and loud noises coming from Molly's bedroom, and when he entered Jason Corbett had his hands around his daughter's neck. Martens then struck him with a baseball bat, and after a brief struggle Corbett ended up on the bedroom floor, where Martens kept hitting him on the head in fear of his life. Martens added that he did not retreat from the bedroom as he was convinced Molly would have been killed by her husband without him to defend her. Martens also admitted that he disliked his son-in-law, highlighting an incident in the run up to the Corbett's wedding where some of Jason's friends had allegedly been drinking, smoking, using bad language in his house.{{Cite news |date= 4 August 2017|title=Thomas Michael Martens weeps as he recounts repeatedly striking Jason Corbett with metal bat|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/thomas-michael-martens-weeps-as-he-recounts-repeatedly-striking-jason-corbett-with-metal-bat/36001205.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-130328/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/thomas-michael-martens-weeps-as-he-recounts-repeatedly-striking-jason-corbett-with-metal-bat/36001205.html|url-status=live }} Under cross examination from assistant District Attorney Greg Brown, Martens admitted that he advised his Molly to seek a divorce from Corbett, commenting that Jason did not measure up to what he termed as his daughter's standard. However, Martens denied trying to take the blame for his daughter's actions in relation to Corbett's death.{{Cite news |date=4 August 2017|title=Molly Marten's murder trial: Molly's brothers take stand as trial nears end|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-murder-trial-mollys-brothers-take-stand-as-trial-nears-end/36005934.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-130338/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-murder-trial-mollys-brothers-take-stand-as-trial-nears-end/36005934.html|url-status=live }} Martens also acknowledged that he had never witnessed or had been told of any incidents of domestic violence involving Jason and his daughter before the night Corbett was killed.{{Cite news |date=5 August 2017|title=Martens-Corbett in line for €500,000 insurance payout after husband Jason's death|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-corbett-in-line-for-500000-insurance-payout-after-husband-jasons-death/36002391.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-133106/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-corbett-in-line-for-500000-insurance-payout-after-husband-jasons-death/36002391.htmll|url-status=live }}

When offered the opportunity to take the stand in her own defence, Molly Martens Corbett exercised her right to silence and declined to give evidence or be cross examined by the prosecution.

Addressing the jury, assistant D.A. Greg Brown asserted that Molly Martens had ample motives to have her husband killed, highlighting how she would inherit the marital home and its contents, a US$600,000 life insurance policy payout, and most importantly to her the custody of Corbett's children. D.A. Brown reminded the jury how Corbett had consistently refused to sign adoption papers granting Molly equal rights to Jack and Sarah in the run up to his death, and how he had in fact planned to return home to Ireland without her. The fact that Thomas Martens hands had no blood on them when paramedics arrived, despite claiming having performed CPR on Jason's blood-soaked chest, coupled with the fact that Corbett's body had an highly unusual low temperature when examined in the ambulance, indicated that the 911 call was not made immediately as claimed by the defendants and that the CPR had been faked over the phone also, with the insinuation that they had waited until he was dead before calling 911.{{Cite news |date=8 August 2017|title=Jason 'killed by wife for money and his kids', murder trial told|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/jason-killed-by-wife-for-money-and-his-kids-murder-trial-told/36009523.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

Defence lawyer Walter Holton countered that authorities had failed to explain several marks found on the necks of both Molly Martens and her father, adding that police had not taken samples from under their fingernails either. Holton also insisted Molly had nothing to gain from Corbett's death, as she was not mentioned in his will. Holton implored the jury to consider the circumstances of Corbett's death, highlighting how Jason had drunk several beers and was a larger man than Thomas Martens.{{Cite news |date=8 August 2017|title=Molly Martens murder trial: ‘I tried to hit him with a brick I had on my nightstand’|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-murder-trial-i-tried-to-hit-him-with-a-brick-i-had-on-my-nightstand/36009822.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-140905/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-murder-trial-i-tried-to-hit-him-with-a-brick-i-had-on-my-nightstand/36009822.html|url-status=live }} The defence team also asserted that the prosecution had failed to illustrate an element of malice, which was a fundamental component in proving a second degree murder charge under the state laws of North Carolina. The fact that Doctor Stuart James had not physically visited the crime scene was cited as a reason to discount his testimony regarding blood splatters, while there was no evidence of flight bookings to support the allegation that Corbett was planning to return to Ireland, they added.{{Cite news |date=8 August 2017|title=Molly Martens murder trial: Judge sends out jury to consider verdict|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-murder-trial-judge-sends-out-jury-to-consider-verdict/36011913.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-140933/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-martens-murder-trial-judge-sends-out-jury-to-consider-verdict/36011913.html|url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=6 August 2017|title=Martens murder case jury faces grim task of sifting through bloody evidence|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-murder-case-jury-faces-grim-task-of-sifting-through-bloody-evidence/36004030.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-130337/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/martens-murder-case-jury-faces-grim-task-of-sifting-through-bloody-evidence/36004030.html|url-status=live }}

On 9 August 2017, after less than 4 hours of jury deliberations, 67-year-old Thomas Martens and his 33-year-old daughter Molly Corbett Martens were unanimously found guilty of the second-degree murder of Jason Corbett. Both were then sentenced to minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 25 years in prison, as per the prosecution's recommendation.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2017|title=Former FBI agent, his daughter found guilty of murdering her husband|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-agent-daughter-found-guilty-murdering-husband/story?id=49115891|newspaper=ABC News|language=en}}

A victim impact statement written by a then 13-year-old Jack Corbett was read out to the court by D.A. Martin on his behalf. Jack wrote that losing his father just nine years after the death of his mother was incredibly difficult, adding that his Dad was always there for him as a child but would now never see him grow up. Addressing Molly Martens directly, Jack stated that she was not a part of and never would be a part of the Corbett family, and that instead she would forever be remembered as a murderer who killed her husband for no reason. Molly Martens was observed to have wailed uncontrollably in anguish as Jack's statement was read out, and many of the jury were reportedly reduced to tears also.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2017|title='She will always be remembered as a murderer' - Jason's teenage son has powerful letter read out in court as verdict handed down|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/she-will-always-be-remembered-as-a-murderer-jasons-teenage-son-has-powerful-letter-read-out-in-court-as-verdict-handed-down/36016527.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-151608/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/she-will-always-be-remembered-as-a-murderer-jasons-teenage-son-has-powerful-letter-read-out-in-court-as-verdict-handed-down/36016527.html|url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=10 August 2017|title='Molly will be remembered as a murderer who killed my dad for no reason'|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-will-be-remembered-as-a-murderer-who-killed-my-dad-for-no-reason/36017572.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-151640/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/molly-will-be-remembered-as-a-murderer-who-killed-my-dad-for-no-reason/36017572.html|url-status=live }}

Media interviews with jurors later revealed that they did not believe Corbett had attacked Molly at all on the night in question, and that the shear number of blows inflicted on him ruled out any motive of self-defense.{{Cite news |date=11 August 2017|title=Juror in father-daughter murder trial: 'No doubt in my mind' guilty verdict was 'right choice'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/juror-father-daughter-murder-trial-doubt-mind-guilty/story?id=49141218|newspaper=ABC News|language=en}} Corbett's sister Tracey Lynch would later assert that she believed the motive for Jason's death was the fact he had been planning to return home to Ireland without Molly, and she killed him in a staged domestic incident to gain custody of the two children. Prosecutors also proposed adoption issues as a possible motive, along with Molly wanting to collect Jason's US$600,000 life insurance policy.{{Cite news |date=10 August 2017|title=Wife, ex-FBI agent dad convicted in husband's beating death|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/molly-martens-corbett-dad-thomas-martens-convicted-jason-corbett-death/|newspaper=CBS News|language=en}}

On 12 March 2021, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled by a 4-to-3 majority that Molly Martens Corbett and her father Thomas Martens must be granted a new trial for the death Jason Corbett, asserting that the appeals court was correct to quash their convictions on the grounds that certain statements made by Corbett's children to investigating officers in the aftermath of his death were wrongly excluded from being used by defence lawyers during their original trial in 2017.{{Cite news |date=12 March 2021|title=NC’s top court orders new trial in Irish businessman’s death|url=https://apnews.com/article/trials-north-carolina-court-decisions-courts-4ab3cb001b060abd9efcb13acb906b99|newspaper= Associated Press|language=en}} In response, Jack and Sarah Corbett expressed willingness to testify against the Martens in the event their previous statements would be relied on by the defence legal teams.{{Cite news |date=24 March 2021|title=Corbett children ‘want their voices to be heard’ in Martens retrial|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-children-wanttheir-voices-to-be-heard-in-martens-retrial/40233010.html|newspaper=Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2025|archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.18-164025/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/corbett-children-wanttheir-voices-to-be-heard-in-martens-retrial/40233010.html|url-status=live }}

On 30 October 2023, Molly Martens Corbett and Thomas Martens both accepted plea bargains at the Davison County Superior Court to charges of class D manslaughter, in return for the district attorney agreeing to drop murder charges against them.{{Cite news |date=30 October 2023|title=Jason Corbett: Wife and father-in-law admit Irishman's manslaughter|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67265877|newspaper=BBC News|language=en}} In early November 2023, Molly Martens Corbett pled no contest to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, while Thomas Martens plead guilty to the same charge, and on 9 November 2023 both were sentenced to between 51 and 74 months in prison. Due to time already served, it was expected both defendants would only serve an additional seven months in prison before being eligible for release.{{Cite news |date=9 November 2023|title=North Carolina woman and her dad get additional jail time in the beating death of her Irish husband|url=https://apnews.com/article/molly-corbett-thomas-martens-beating-death-sentencing-3cda094c4a562494ea4efdce6c2faf7e|newspaper= Associated Press|language=en}} At the Martens' re-sentencing, 19-year-old Jack and 17-year-old Sarah Corbett were present in court to deliver their victim impact statements in person.{{Cite news |date= 9 November 2023|title=Sarah and Jack Corbett’s court statements in full as Molly Martens is jailed: ‘I was used by her – all I’ve ever been is a piece on her chessboard’|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sarah-and-jack-corbetts-court-statements-in-full-as-molly-martens-is-jailed-i-was-used-by-her-all-ive-ever-been-is-a-piece-on-her-chessboard/a428683376.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} Sarah described how she had endured years of therapy due to the fact her statements as a young child had been twisted and then used to help the Marten's escape punishment, adding that Molly had devastated her entire family. Sarah also asserted that Martins had shown no remorse for killing her father, removing her wedding ring almost immediately and telling her to stop crying and to "get over it" in the days after his death. Jack urged the judge not to be fooled by Martens, stating that she was a "monster" who had abused him and weaponized his earlier statements in an effort to get away with killing his father.{{Cite news |date= 9 November 2023|title=Jason Corbett’s children brand Molly Martens a ‘monster’ as she and father Tom to walk free from prison within months|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/killer-molly-prevented-forensic-tests-with-5k-industrial-house-clean/36922976.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}} As the children read out their statements, Molly Martens sobbed loudly and eventually laid her face down on the table in front of her.{{Cite news |date= 9 November 2023|title=Molly Martens sobbed and lay her face on the wooden table as Corbett children delivered blistering statements calling her a ‘monster’|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/molly-martens-sobbed-and-lay-her-face-on-the-wooden-table-as-corbett-children-delivered-blistering-statements-calling-her-a-monster/a1556896373.html|newspaper=Irish Independent|language=en}}

On 6 June 2024, Molly Martens Corbett and her father Thomas Martens were released from prison after completing their sentences for the voluntary manslaughter of Jason Corbett. Both were to be subjected to one year of post-release supervision, which was reported to be served in Tennessee.{{Cite news |date=6 June 2024|title=North Carolina woman and her dad complete prison sentences for death of her Irish husband|url=https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-sentencing-manslaughter-prisoners-release-746598768b5e95fe9da5b7a8abb1b887|newspaper= Associated Press|language=en}}

A Netflix documentary regarding Corbett's death, titled A Deadly American Marriage, is due to be released in May 2025. As well as featuring Corbett's children, both Tom Martens and Molly Martens Corbett have been interviewed for the documentary.{{Cite news |date=17 April 2025 |title=Netflix to release documentary on killing of Jason Corbett|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0417/1508113-jason-corbett/|newspaper=RTE News|language=en}}

{{reflist}}

Category:2015 in Ireland

Category:Crime in North Carolina