Triple killer's alarm went off at 1:10am as he had grim job to do

Daily Mirror

14 hours ago

Christian "Kit" Martin was a decorated military veteran and commercial pilot who murdered three of his neighbours - his sickening early morning plans shocked loved ones
Wearing his PSA Airlines uniform, pilot Christian "Kit" Martin certainly made an impression as he marched towards the departure gate at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on 11 May 2019. The ex- army major, boasting a distinguished 30-year military career, was all set to captain a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, for PSA, an affiliate of American Airlines.
However, upon reaching the security checkpoint to board the early morning service, Martin's day took a dramatic turn – he was halted by police officers.
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Onlookers were shocked as Martin was handcuffed, arrested, and escorted away in full view of the public. His days in the cockpit were abruptly over.
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He was accused of a horrific crime: the triple homicide of three neighbours. This marked a staggering descent from honour to infamy, and for Martin, things were about to get even grimmer as his history loomed large.
Rewind four years, and Martin found himself in Pembroke, Kentucky, amidst personal chaos. Despite a celebrated career piloting helicopters for the army, his life was unravelling. His marriage to wife Joan had crumbled, leading to a venomous split. To add insult to injury, Martin uncovered that Joan had been legally tied to another man when they exchanged vows in 2004.
Joan would later face charges of bigamy, resulting in a five-year "pretrial diversion" sentence, essentially a probationary period. In retaliation, Joan levelled accusations against Martin, painting him as domineering and abusive.
Joan, leaving the family home with her son from a previous relationship, was assisted by neighbour Calvin Phillips, who lived opposite. Despite no evidence of an affair, Martin suspected Joan and Calvin were romantically involved, leading to heated accusations.
During the move, Calvin and Joan stumbled upon a military computer and discs they believed held classified information, which they handed over to the police.
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Martin faced a court martial and potential army discharge, accused of mishandling classified data and sexual abuse charges.
Calvin, aged 59, was set to testify at the court martial. Martin, vehemently denying all allegations, claimed his ex-wife fabricated the charges to "ruin him" following their split.
On November 18, 2015, a burnt-out car was discovered in a Pembroke cornfield. The intense fire initially concealed the two bodies inside.
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The victims were identified as Calvin's wife Pamela, 58, and Edward Dansereau, 63, another neighbour. Their deaths were ruled homicides, with both suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
The vehicle was traced back to Pamela's residence, where police were horrified to discover another gruesome crime scene. Pamela's husband Calvin was found dead in the basement, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
The murderer had attempted to incinerate his body without success and had closed the cellar doors in an attempt to conceal the crime. A triple murder investigation was subsequently launched. Who could possibly want to kill these three neighbours?
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Investigators quickly unearthed that Calvin was scheduled to testify at Martin's court martial just a few weeks after his death. Was Calvin murdered to prevent him from testifying, and were the others killed to obscure the real target?
By placing Pamela and Edward's bodies together, it could appear as though they were engaged in an affair. Did the murderer plan to move Calvin's body before it was found to frame him for the murders? However, despite thorough investigations, there was no evidence linking Martin to the murders and the case went cold. Martin faced his court martial as scheduled but without Calvin as a witness.
Martin was found guilty of mishandling classified information and child assault. He received a 90-day prison sentence and was discharged from the army. Martin relocated to North Carolina and started anew. In early 2018, he secured employment with PSA Airlines.
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However, back in Pembroke, Calvin and Pamela's family remained resolute in their quest for justice for them and for Edward.
The case was reopened after investigators were urged to do so and new evidence was presented. The Phillips family discovered a spent bullet shell casing near the cellar door on the back porch of Pamela and Calvin's home.
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They were puzzled as to how it had been overlooked years earlier when the police had thoroughly searched the crime scene, but they also found a set of Martin's dog tags on a shelf in the house.
BULLET CASING
The bullet casing was found to match a gun owned by Martin. Investigators could also now place Martin's mobile in the area where Pamela and Edward's bodies were discovered.
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Finally, there was sufficient evidence to charge him. In May 2019, Martin was apprehended at Louisville Airport, just moments before he was due to board a flight. Following his arrest, Martin was still dressed in his uniform when his mugshots were taken.
Immediately, Martin denied any involvement in the deaths of his neighbours. He maintained that he was at home with his girlfriend - who is now his fiancée - at the time of the murders. She supported him and would testify that they were together at the time of the killings.
As the trial neared, Martin's ex-wife Joan invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid giving testimony. In court this year, the prosecution alleged that Martin shot Calvin in his home on the morning of 18 November 2015, to prevent Calvin from testifying at his court martial.
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He disposed of the body in the cellar and attempted to burn it. When Pamela returned from her job at a bank, he also killed her by shooting her in the head. He also shot Edward in the head. Was Edward simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, or was his death a cover-up for the real target?
Martin denied any involvement in the murders, leaving the question unanswered. Regardless, both Pamela and Edward became unintended victims.
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Following the murders, Martin set his alarm for 1.10am to transport Pamela and Edward's bodies to a field three miles away, where he torched their car. A neighbour heard the explosion, and the fire nearly reduced the car to ashes.
In June 2021, following a two-week trial, Martin was convicted on all charges. He was found guilty of three counts of murder, along with charges of burglary, arson, and tampering with evidence.
During the sentencing, the victims' family shared their memories. Matt Phillips, son of Calvin and Pamela, described his mum as warm-hearted and kind, while his dad was outgoing and full of energy.
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He referred to them as "direct opposites" but perfectly suited for each other. "They're just gone," he expressed.
"And the concept of home, where you go for Thanksgiving or for Christmas, or just to go home, this concept of home has been taken. It's gone."
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Edward's daughter, Erin, informed the court that her father was a professional jazz pianist and a "passionate lover of life".
"His spirit was infectious, and his spirit made everyone feel like they were loved," she said about her father. "If you were lucky enough to form any kind of relationship with him, it meant he loved you. There were no grey areas. You had a loyal friend for the rest of your life."
The judge agreed with the jury's recommendation of life imprisonment without parole. Martin's legal team announced they would appeal.
Despite his efforts, Martin couldn't salvage his reputation. And three innocent lives were lost.