The brutal murder of Jason Corbett, an Irish father of two, shocked both America and Ireland in 2015. The horrifying case involved his American second wife, Molly Martens, and her father, Tom Martens, a former FBI agent, who beat him to death with a baseball bat and a brick. The story would later unfold as one of hatred, deceit, violent confrontations, and deep family trauma.
The Night of the Murder
On August 2, 2015, Jason Corbett was killed at his home in North Carolina. Tom Martens and his wife, Sharon, had been visiting their daughter’s home. On the night of the murder, police responded to a frantic scene, where paramedics were attempting to revive Jason’s lifeless body as it lay near the master bedroom. Meanwhile, Tom provided calm yet suspect accounts of what had transpired upstairs.
According to Tom Martens, the violent encounter began after he intervened in an alleged domestic dispute between Jason and Molly. However, the forensic evidence, including corporal injuries and dried blood at the scene, painted a more sinister picture. Witness testimony revealed distinct patterns of premeditation rather than an act of self-defense, with critical attention turned to Sharon Martens’ dubious story as well.
Sharon Martens’ Role and Questions of Credibility
Sharon’s lack of reaction during and after the murder stunned investigators and brought her credibility into question. When Corporal Clayton Dagenhardt arrived, he found Sharon in the basement, oddly calm, claiming she had been asleep despite the intense violence and shouting upstairs. Prosecutors later pointed out how Sharon’s behavior mirrored attempts to deliberately stay out of the chaotic narrative, a strategy that may have supported the Martens’ attempt to concoct a plausible story.
Years later, during the trial, Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin accused Sharon of aiding her family in covering up the truth. Investigations showed Sharon had coached Jason’s children—Jack and Sarah—to tell authorities false stories about abuse by their father, further muddling the case.
Allegations of Abuse or Calculated Lies?
The relationship between Jason and Molly unraveled years before the tragedy. Emails revealed a tumultuous marriage filled with arguments, emotional manipulation, and Molly’s attempts to portray Jason as abusive to neighbors and legal advisors. Investigators found no evidence of injuries associated with abuse, and neighbors universally described the couple as outwardly affectionate and happy.
Molly had allegedly begun creating a narrative of abuse by sending herself diary-like emails cataloging Jason’s behavior. This strategy aligned suspiciously with legal guidance she received months before the killing. By July 2015, Molly started recording supposed ‘abuse’, framing her intentions to seek custody of Jason’s children. Prosecutors suggested these staged accounts of violence could have been part of a broader plot.
Trial and Aftermath
Molly Martens and Tom Martens were ultimately convicted of second-degree murder in 2017. Despite their claims of self-defense, forensic evidence, including blood spatter analysis and testimony from key medical and crime scene experts, debunked their story. Sharon Martens, though never criminally charged, faced scrutiny for her peculiar detachment and apparent complicity.
The twin tragedies of physical violence and family betrayal earned this case international attention. The tragic loss of Jason Corbett continues to resonate, with unprecedented legal battles over estates, custody, and irreversible damage to family relationships.
This high-profile case serves as a haunting reminder of how quickly familial tensions, when left unchecked, can spiral into unthinkable violence and life-altering consequences.
