Nearly a decade after Irishman Jason Corbett was brutally murdered in his North Carolina home, the case continues to stir emotions in Ireland and the U.S. The release of a new documentary has once again brought public focus to the events surrounding his death, the controversial legal battle that followed, and the fate of his two children, who were caught in the middle of a tragedy that spanned two continents.
How was Jason Corbett murdered?
On the early morning of August 2, 2015, 39-year-old Jason Corbett was bludgeoned to death in his bedroom in Davidson County, North Carolina. He was attacked with two blunt objects-a metal baseball bat and a concrete paving brick-while he was either asleep or in a dazed state, as indicated by the position of his body and the nature of his injuries.
The assailants were none other than his second wife, Molly Martens, and her father, Thomas Martens, a retired FBI agent. The official 911 call was made by Thomas, who claimed he acted to save his daughter from being strangled. According to a recording of the phone call, Tom told dispatchers that Jason was "in bad shape" and that he thought he "may have killed him," the Winston-Salem Journal reported.
When first responders arrived, they found Jason lying on the floor, covered in blood, with multiple skull fractures and blunt force trauma wounds.
While Molly and her father insisted that Jason was abusive and that the attack was provoked, investigators found no physical evidence supporting those claims. Instead, it emerged during the investigation that Jason had been considering a move back to Ireland with his children-a move Molly strongly opposed.
Jason's first wife, Mags Corbett, had died from an asthma attack in 2006. Jason later hired Molly, then a 24-year-old American au pair, to help care for his children, Jack and Sarah, before eventually marrying her and relocating to the U.S.
The trial, overturned verdict, and plea deal
In 2017, after a lengthy and emotionally charged trial, a jury convicted Molly Martens and Thomas Martens of second-degree murder.
"My dad was always there for me. I don't have that anymore," his statement read, according to the Irish Independent. "I will never be able to give him a hug or a card on Father's Day. He won't see me grow up." The powerful words from Jason's older child reportedly left many in the courtroom in tears. Subsequently, the judge sentenced Tom and Molly to 20 to 25 years in prison.
However, in 2020, the North Carolina Court of Appeals overturned their convictions, ruling that the trial judge had wrongly excluded certain testimony that could have supported their claims of abuse. The North Carolina Supreme Court later upheld this ruling, setting the stage for a retrial.
In November 2023, rather than face another trial, both Molly and Thomas accepted Alford pleas to voluntary manslaughter.
What happened to Jason Corbett's children?
At the time of their father's death, Jack (10) and Sarah (8) were inside the home, reportedly sleeping during the fatal attack. In the weeks that followed, a bitter custody battle ensued between Molly Martens and Jason's family.
Jason had made it clear in his will that if anything happened to him, Tracey and her husband David Lynch in Limerick would be the legal guardians of his children. After multiple court hearings and diplomatic involvement, the children were granted to the Corbett family and returned to Ireland in August 2015.
Since then, Jack and Sarah have been raised by them. The family has respected their privacy, and the children have grown up in Limerick under the care of their aunt and uncle. While Tracey has been outspoken about seeking justice for her brother, she has protected her niece and nephew from the public spotlight.
Where is Molly Martens now?
Molly Martens, who was convicted in connection with the death of her husband Jason Corbett, was released from prison on June 6, 2024, according to her inmate record from the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women. She is currently serving a one-year parole, set to end on June 6, 2025.
As part of her post-release supervision, Molly is required to remain in Tennessee, where she and her father Tom Martens are based. However, the two are not permitted to live together, though visits are allowed, according to Brad Deen, communications officer at the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Deen also confirmed to The Times that the pair may travel within the U.S. with prior notice to authorities.
The documentary that reopened old wounds
The recently released Netflix documentary 'A Deadly American Marriage,' which began streaming on May 9, revisits the heartbreaking and complicated case with renewed focus. It explores the events of August 1, 2015 - the night of Jason Corbett's death - and aims to shed light on the many unresolved questions that still surround the case. The true crime series includes exclusive interviews with Molly Martens, her father Tom Martens, and Jason's children, Jack and Sarah.
The documentary revisited the tragic events of 2015 with never-before-seen footage, police reports, and emotional interviews with Jason's family, legal experts, and journalists who covered the case.