A Deadly American Marriage: Inside the Killing of Jason Corbett—and the Controversial Release of His Killers

A Deadly American Marriage: Inside the Killing of Jason Corbett—and the Controversial Release of His Killers

What began as a promising new chapter for widower Jason Corbett ended in horror—and a decade-long legal battle that continues to divide two nations.

The brutal 2015 murder of Jason Corbett in his North Carolina home, at the hands of his American wife Molly Martens and her father, former FBI agent Thomas Martens, shocked both Ireland and the U.S.

Now, following the release of the Netflix documentary A Deadly American Marriage and the killers’ early release from prison, the case has reignited public outrage and reopened painful questions about justice, family, and truth.

From Grief to a New Love

Jason Corbett, a devoted father of two, was left shattered by the sudden death of his wife Margaret "Mags" Fitzpatrick in 2006. She died from an asthma attack just 12 weeks after giving birth to their daughter, Sarah. Their son, Jack, was just two years old at the time.

In 2008, Jason hired a 24-year-old American named Molly Martens as an au pair to help care for his children in Limerick, Ireland. Within a few years, the professional relationship blossomed into a romantic one. By 2011, the pair were married and had relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina—a move many believe was prompted by Molly’s homesickness and desire to be near her family.

Family members initially welcomed Molly, but cracks began to show soon after the move. Jason’s siblings, especially his sister Tracey Corbett-Lynch, would later describe Molly as possessive and manipulative. Jason, they say, became increasingly isolated and unhappy.

The Night Jason Died

On the morning of August 2, 2015, Thomas Martens dialed 911.

“My son-in-law got in a fight with my daughter,” he told the dispatcher. “I intervened and he’s in bad shape. He’s bleeding all over and I may have killed him.”

When paramedics arrived, they found 39-year-old Jason Corbett dead on the bedroom floor. He had been struck at least 12 times in the head with a metal baseball bat and a landscaping stone. Blood covered the room.

Thomas claimed he had used the bat—originally a gift for Jack—to stop Jason from strangling Molly. Molly backed up the story, insisting she feared for her life and that of her father.

But prosecutors—and Jason’s family—allege that the killing was premeditated and calculate

Signs of Control, Isolation—and Fear

Jason had reportedly been making plans to leave Molly and return to Ireland with his children. He was unhappy and wanted out, according to Tracey, who told 48 Hours that Jason had been looking for plane tickets just days before his death.

He allegedly felt trapped and feared Molly’s escalating behavior. She had tried to legally adopt Jack and Sarah—something Jason opposed. According to Tracey, Jason worried about how Molly treated the children and feared she was poisoning them against their late mother.

Sarah and Jack, now adults, would later reveal in interviews and in Sarah’s memoir that Molly manipulated and emotionally abused them. Sarah claimed Molly whispered disturbing lies, including that their father had murdered their mother.

As part of her legal defense, Molly submitted audio recordings she had secretly taped of Jason. These recordings were not aired in full in the Netflix documentary but were submitted as part of court evidence.

In one particularly disturbing excerpt, Jason is heard yelling:

"I said I wanted to eat with my family. I don’t know what the hell you’re doing. You don’t take them out to the snow when I haven’t seen them all day. You don’t just feed them and disappear."

"I’m talking to you! Is this how you treat… you just ignore me? I said I’d like to have dinner with my family. I shouldn’t have to say it over and over."

The audio ends with Sarah screaming, apparently in an effort to stop the argument. Prosecutors claimed the tapes were staged by Molly, recorded after intentionally provoking Jason. Defense attorneys argued they showed a pattern of control and volatility.

Prosecutors Say Jason Was Attacked in His Sleep

Investigators quickly cast doubt on Molly and Thomas’s self-defense claim. Forensic experts testified that blood spatter indicated Jason had been lying down when the beating began. He likely never had a chance to fight back.

Former Davidson County Sheriff David Grice, who responded to the scene, later said:

"It was the bloodiest crime scene I’ve seen in years. And based on what I saw, they didn’t try to save him. They tried to make sure he was dead."

Paramedics also noted that Jason’s body was cold—suggesting there had been a significant delay between the beating and the 911 call.

The First Trial and Conviction

In 2017, Molly and Thomas were tried for second-degree murder. Prosecutors argued that Molly, enraged by Jason’s plans to leave, enlisted her father to help kill him.

During the trial, the jury heard about the custody dispute, the emotional manipulation of Jack and Sarah, and Molly’s increasingly erratic behavior. They also heard that Thomas Martens brought the baseball bat into the bedroom.

After just three hours of deliberation, both were found guilty and sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison.

A Reversal and Plea Deal

In 2020, the Martens family appealed the conviction, arguing that critical evidence—particularly the children’s initial statements claiming Jason was abusive—had been excluded.

The North Carolina Supreme Court agreed. In 2021, it overturned the convictions, citing an unfair trial.

Rather than endure a second trial, Molly and Thomas accepted a plea deal in October 2023, pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter. They were sentenced to 51–74 months.

Because they had already served over 4 years, both were released from prison in June 2024.

Jason’s family was devastated.

“They got off with a slap,” former Sheriff Grice said. “They spent enough money and wore the courts down.”

Sarah and Jack: A Life Reclaimed

Following their father’s death, Jack and Sarah were returned to Ireland, where they were adopted by their aunt Tracey and her husband David Lynch. Now young adults, they’ve spoken out against Molly and Thomas.

In her book A Time for Truth, Sarah detailed the emotional abuse they endured and the lies they were forced to tell.

“Molly turned our lives into a horror story,” Sarah wrote. “She made me lie about my dad. And I will never forgive her for that.”

She also described being slapped and hit by Molly, and said she once had to pull her off her brother Jack during a violent episode.

Timeline of the Case

2006: Mags Fitzpatrick dies of an asthma attack. Jason becomes a widower.

2008: Molly Martens is hired as an au pair in Limerick.

2011: Jason and Molly marry; family relocates to North Carolina.

2015: Jason is murdered on August 2.

2017: Molly and Thomas convicted of second-degree murder.

2021: Convictions overturned by North Carolina Supreme Court.

2023: Plea deals accepted for voluntary manslaughter.

2024: Both are released from prison after serving 51 months.

2025: Netflix documentary A Deadly American Marriage reignites interest and debate.

People Also Ask

What happened to Molly Martens? She served just over four years in prison before being released on a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter in 2024.

How many years did Molly get? She was initially sentenced to 20–25 years but had her conviction overturned and received a reduced sentence of 51–74 months.

Did Molly Martens get convicted? Yes. She was convicted of second-degree murder in 2017, though the verdict was later overturned. She pled no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2023.

Who is Molly Corbett’s husband? What happened to Jason Corbett? Jason Corbett was Molly’s husband. He was beaten to death in 2015 by Molly and her father.

Who was Jason Corbett’s first wife? Margaret “Mags” Fitzpatrick, who died in 2006 from an asthma attack.

Jason Corbett’s family continues to fight to preserve his legacy. They say A Deadly American Marriage only scratches the surface—and the real story, as painful as it is, still deserves to be fully told.

Sarah put it best:

“My dad was a good man. And we’re going to make sure the world knows it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PPSFCWO_cA