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Unveiled: The Brutal Truth Behind Netflix’s ‘A Deadly American Marriage’—Murder or Self-Defense?

BBG News

When Jason Corbett found himself smitten by Molly Martens, it seemed like a divine response to his widower’s hopes and a long-awaited reality. However, their romance—and Corbett’s life— culminated in what an investigator described as “one of the most violent crime scenes” she had encountered in years. The grim circumstances that led this seemingly happy pair to such a grisly fate is explored in the recently released Netflix documentary titled “A Deadly American Marriage“.

In 2006, when Margaret “Mags” Fitzpatrick, Corbett’s wife, passed away due to an asthma attack, the 30-year-old Irish businessman was left with his sorrow and two young children to raise on his own. To help him, he employed Molly Martens, a 25-year-old American from Knoxville, Tenn., as a live-in nanny in 2008. She moved to Limerick, Ireland, to look after Corbett’s kids, Jack (3 years old) and Sarah (1 year old) at the time. Not long after she started working, Corbett and Martens began a relationship and eventually got engaged. As he was able to transfer his job to the United States, they decided to move their family from Ireland to North Carolina. They married there in the presence of Corbett’s family and friends. However, tragedy struck again, and Corbett lost his life on Aug. 2, 2015, in North Carolina.

What happened that night

The specifics of that fateful night have sparked debate in courtrooms, books, television episodes on shows like 20/20 and 48 Hours, and more recently, in the documentary produced and directed by Jessica Burgess (Rich & Shameless, American Monster) and Jenny Popplewell (What Jennifer Did, American Murder: The Family Next Door). What is indisputable is that Corbett, aged 39 at the time, and Martens engaged in a confrontation. Martens asserts that their altercations were common and that Corbett had a tendency to be aggressive, but it remains unverified whether this allegation holds water or if it was merely a strategic defense maneuver.

At their residence in Wallburg, North Carolina, Molly’s father, Tom Martens – a retired FBI agent – found himself in a distressing situation when he heard commotion. Seizing an aluminum baseball bat, he swiftly moved to help his daughter. Subsequently, Tom Martens dialed 911 and reported that his son-in-law was injured and might have been fatally hurt by him. In a chilling 911 call, later played in the documentary, Tom expressed his concern: “He’s bleeding profusely, and I, I may have killed him.” Later, both Tom Martens and Molly admitted to Corbett’s death, claiming they used a brick and baseball bat in defense. However, the prosecution argued that Corbett’s demise was an act of murder.

Based on interviews with the police, as reported by CBS, Tom Martens stated that upon arriving at their daughter’s house that night, they found Corbett under the influence of alcohol. The family retired without any disturbances until Sarah, Corbett’s daughter, woke up from a nightmare. Molly went to comfort her, but Corbett became agitated and a quarrel broke out, which Molly described as not unusual given Corbett’s history of violent and abusive behavior. Molly alleged that Corbett was strangling her and she feared for her life. When Tom arrived at the scene, Corbett turned his aggression towards him. Molly claimed she picked up a brick from her nightstand and struck Corbett over the head in self-defense. Her father then grabbed a bat and struck him too, out of concern for both their lives being in danger. The district attorney investigating the case called the autopsy report “terrifying,” highlighting the severity of the injuries found. According to CBS News, Corbett reportedly sustained over a dozen blows to the head before his death.

Initially, the police suspected Corbett’s death was self-defense, but a documentary reveals that the police and prosecutors are constructing a case of either murder or manslaughter instead. The investigator and district attorney suggest that the 911 call sounded scripted, and emergency workers felt Corbett’s body was too cold to fit with the Martenses’ account of events. Tom Martens, who is also an FBI interrogation specialist, adds complexity to questioning him. Moreover, it seems that the children might have been coached, as Jack stated his father “physically and verbally harmed my mom,” and Sarah was told by her mother that her dad wasn’t a good father. In January 2016, both Molly and Tom Martens were indicted for second-degree murder.

A trial delivers a verdict

In the trial that ensued in 2017, the prosecution contended that Corbett had intentions of abandoning Molly and taking Jack and Sarah back to Ireland with him. Since Molly had not legally adopted the children and valued them as her own, she fiercely opposed losing them, creating tension between the couple. This tension could have contributed to an altercation on the night of Corbett’s death. The prosecution suggested that self-defense was a dubious explanation for Corbett’s demise since the autopsy revealed he was struck at least a dozen times in the head, causing fatal skull damage. Interestingly, the Martenses emerged unscathed from this supposed struggle, which the prosecution found implausible if they were indeed defending their lives. Furthermore, the toxicology report raised questions about the details in the Martenses’ accounts. Following testimony presentation, the jury took three hours to deliberate before returning two concurring guilty verdicts. As a result, Molly and Tom received sentences of 20-to-25 years imprisonment each.

That was not the end of the case, though. 

Upon the delivery of the verdict, I, as a supporter of justice, observed the defense filing a petition to nullify the judgment due to potential jury misconduct. A juror had indicated that discussions about the case may have taken place among the panel before all evidence was heard, potentially leading to an unjust trial. The trial judge dismissed this petition initially, but later on, the defense presented their case to the appellate court, this time emphasizing multiple trial errors such as jury misconduct, overlooked blood stains on Tom’s underwear, and what they deemed crucial testimony from the children that was excluded during the trial. Remarkably, the appellate court overturned the verdict. However, the prosecution subsequently appealed this decision to the highest court – the Supreme Court.

In March 2021, the North Carolina Supreme Court mandated a retrial for Molly and Tom Martens. They were granted bail the subsequent month. As both parties readied themselves for the upcoming trials, Molly’s legal team was set to assert self-defense and construct an argument that Corbett had been a violent spouse, potentially responsible for his first wife’s death. In contrast, Jack and Sarah Corbett, on the defensive side, alleged that Molly instructed them to mislead the authorities about their father’s abusive behavior, stating that he was not violent or abusive in any way. The defense considered this information as potentially devastating for the Martens.

In October 2023, Molly and Tom admitted to charges of voluntary manslaughter in court to bypass another trial and possible re-imprisonment. During subsequent hearings, both children testified with emotional statements describing Molly as taking away their father, their childhoods, and their innocence. According to the Associated Press, the children appealed to the judge for the maximum sentence of 25 years against Molly and Thomas Martens in connection with their father’s death. In the documentary, Molly claims that the children have been manipulated and are being used as “instruments of wickedness,” forgetting the truth about their shared past.

The Martens, convicted of Corbett’s death, received sentences ranging from 51 to 70 months. Due to the time they had previously served in prison following the initial trial, they were expected to serve only an additional seven or eight months, as stated in a news report within the documentary. In total, the two Martens spent approximately four years in and out of prison before their release from custody in June 2024, according to Raleigh’s The News & Observer.

Questions remain

As a cinephile captivated by the enigma of this tale, I must admit that the suspense surrounding the events continues to grip me. The Netflix documentary delves deep into the central conundrum: Was it self-defense or a meticulously planned murder? Was Molly not just a cold-hearted villainess, but a woman driven by desperation to flee an oppressive and abusive marriage, with her father stepping in to rescue his daughter? To shed light on this question, the documentary showcases interviews with key figures such as Molly Martens, Thomas Martens, Corbett’s sister Tracey Corbett-Lynch, and Corbett’s two children who were 8 and 10 years old when their father passed away. Following their father’s demise, the children relocated to Ireland to live with their aunt, a staunch advocate for justice for her brother, who has authored a book about the case entitled My Brother Jason.

The documentary features conversations with various investigators, prosecutors who worked on Corbett’s 2015 murder case, Molly Martens’ legal team who successfully appealed the verdict, and others. This blend creates an intriguing depiction of the crime and trial, offering viewers a unique insight into the contrasting viewpoints held by individuals closely connected to the case.

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2025-05-09 14:07

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