Widow and father-in-law of murdered Limerick man granted bail on charges of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter by North Carolina court
by Andrew Carey
andrew@limerickpost.ie
FOLLOWING the release on bail of Molly and Thomas Martens after they were charged in connection with the brutal killing of Limerick man Jason Corbett last year, the harrowing details of the early hours of August 2 have been released through the 911 call made by the man who admitted his killing.
Thomas Martens called 911 and said that he hit his son-in-law with a baseball bat revealing “I think I killed him”.
Listen to the call here – the full call is over 14 minutes in length but this version has much of the CPR work omitted some 7 minutes into the call and resumes just before emergency responders arrive.
In further documentation released by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Department, it is alleged that Molly Martens and her father struck Jason Corbett on the head with a concrete paving brick and an aluminium baseball bat.
The Martens’ say that it was as a result of a struggle where Mr Marten said that he intervened in a physical argument between his daughter and son-in-law.
However, neither Molly nor her father had an injuries reported as a result of a so called “Donnybrook”, which is described as an uncontrolled fight or argument in the bedroom. Sheriffs say that the scene at 160 Panther Creek Court was not consistent with such an altercation.
The 31 year-old former model and her 65 year-old father, retired FBI agent Thomas Martens, were granted bail on charges of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.
One of the conditions imposed by the court is that they end all contact with Mr Corbett’s immediate family, specifically his children, Jack (10) and Sarah (8), who are now living in Limerick.
Tuesday’s court appearance followed confirmation on Monday night that a grand jury in Davidson County, North Carolina had indicted the Martens in connection with Jason Corbett’s death.
The 39 year-old from Janesboro in Limerick city was found with fatal head injuries on August 2 at the home he shared in Wallburg, North Carolina with his second wife, Ms Martens Corbett, and his two children from his first marriage.
Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank said the trial was likely to be held before the end of the year.
In North Carolina, a second degree murder charge carries a sentence of 12 years to life while sentences for voluntary manslaughter range from four to 12 years.
Following a near five month investigation and countless hours put in by law enforcement officers, the charges were levelled against the pair based on sheriff’s beliefs that Jason was going to move his life and his children back home to Ireland “with or without” Molly Martens.
Jason was seeking employment in either the UK or Ireland and was in the process of making arrangements to move money back to Ireland.
However sheriff’s now say that Ms Martens withdrew large sums of cash from shared bank accounts after Jason’s death.
Jason’s sister Tracy Lynch and her husband David, released a statement on behalf of the Corbett family in which they thanked the authorities for all their “work and determination”.
“We want all the facts to go in front of the jury. We continue to grieve over the murder of Jason,”
Results of an autopsy and other documents were sealed by the court on foot of an application by prosecutors before Christmas but earlier this week the DA’s office sent forward the indictments and the cause of Jason’s death revealed.
Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said “It was an extremely thorough investigation,”
“We are pleased with the decision of the grand jury.”
On August 2, police were dispatched to the scene of an incident at the Corbetts’ $350,000 home in Panther Creek, Wallburg shortly after 3am.
Deputy Sheriff Dagenhardt wrote in a report that while Deputy Dillard was on route to an assault at 160 Panther Creek Court, the Davidson County 911 Center said the caller had been in an argument with his son-in-law and struck him with a baseball bat.
When patrol deputies arrived at the address, they found Jason Corbett inside the home with fatal head injuries.
Although they were released without charge, both Ms Martens and her father were interviewed by police and named as “persons involved” in the incident.
Mr Corbett’s first wife and mother of his two children, Mags Fitzpatrick Corbett, died tragically in 2006 from an asthma attack when Jack was two and baby Sarah was just 12 weeks old.
Molly Martens responded to an advertisement he placed seeking an au pair to look after the children and she moved from her home in Knoxville, Tennessee to the family home in Limerick.
In June 2011, Jason Corbett and Molly Martens were married. They resettled in North Carolina after Mr Corbett’s employers Chesapeake transferred him as plant manager to their Lexington facility in North Carolina.
After his death, Mr Corbett’s family were involved in a legal battle with Ms Martens who sought custody of his two children. This resulted in his sister Tracy Lynch travelling to the US with a copy of his will which stated that Jack and Sarah were to be placed in her custody.
The dispute was finally resolved on December 8 when Superior Court Judge Ted Royster upheld a District Court decision that granted legal guardianship to Tracey Lynch and her husband.
The children returned home and are said to be doing very well in Limerick since.
Since the Superior Court ruling, Molly Martens has pursued a social media campaign trying to contact the children.
Responding to confirmation that Ms Martens and her father are to face charges, Tracey Lynch said her family’s “confidence and trust in the Davidson County sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney has been reaffirmed by today’s decision.”
In a post to the “Bring Justice for Jason” Facebook page, the Corbett family described Jason as a “kind man who lived his life with integrity and generosity of spirit.
“Hatred is not an emotion in our hearts, it only gives power to those who are not worthy of sharing the same oxygen”, the post concludes.
Ms Lynch came face-to-face with her late brother’s wife and father-in-law at Tuesday’s court hearing in Davidson County.
Bail conditions imposed on Molly and Thomas Martens include two sureties of €200,000. They were also ordered to surrender their passports and agree to cease all contact with Mr Corbett’s immediate family, specifically his two children in Limerick.
Separate court papers indicate that the Corbett family have sought to recover a number of personal possessions from Jason’s US home.
TIMELINE
November 2006
Jason Corbett’s wife Mags dies from an asthma attack 12 weeks after giving birth to their daughter, Sarah. Molly Martens responds to an advertisement for an au-pair to look after Sarah and her bother, Jack.
June 2011
Jason Corbett and Molly Martens are married in her home state of Tennessee after the couple were engaged and transferred their lives and Jason’s two children to North Carolina.
August 2, 2015
Weeks before he was due to return to Ireland, Jason Corbett is found in his home with fatal head injuries on August 2. Police receive a call from Thomas Martens who said that he had been in an argument with his son-in law and had hit him with a baseball bat.
August 14, 2015
A contested custody hearing is adjourned to allow the court consider evidence submitted by Jason’s sister, Tracy Lynch, that his will specified that his children be returned to Ireland in the event of his death.
August 18, 2015
A vigil is held outside Limerick City Hall as hundreds turn out in support of the Corbett family.
August 22, 2015
Jack and Sarah Corbett arrive in Limerick after the US courts recognise Jason’s sister Tracy Lynch and her husband David as their legal guardians.
August 26, 2015
Jason Corbett is laid to rest alongside his first wife, Mags.
December 9, 2015
Molly Martens loses an appeal over the custody of Jack and Sarah.
December 18, 2015
A Grand Jury meets in North Caroline to decide whether charges are to be preferred in relation to Jason Corbett’s death. Their decision is sealed by a Judge until after the Christmas break.
January 4, 2016
Molly Martens and her father Thomas are indicted to be brought before Davidson County Superior Court to face charges of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.
January 5, 2016
They are formally charged before Davidson Superior Court and released on bail.
