Killers Tom and Molly Martens can now live and travel freely as parole terms end
Molly Martens and Jason Corbett on their wedding day in 2011
Molly Martens Corbett arrives with an attorney at the Davidson County Courthouse on Tuesday morning. Photo: Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch
Killer father and daughter Tom and Molly Martens have officially concluded their parole terms following their release from prison for the voluntary manslaughter of Irish businessman Jason Corbett.
It means both may resume unrestricted travel across the United States – and will also be able to live at their family home as, until now, as convicted felons, neither could share the same address.
Under the terms of their parole, the pair, now aged 75 and 41, were prevented from having any contact – direct or indirect/electronic –with Mr Corbett's family and his two children, Jack and Sarah.
Thomas Martens arrives at court in Lexington, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Photo: Jerry Wolford
Ms Martens and her father, who is a former FBI agent, were released from prison on June 6, 2024, after serving four years and three months for the brutal killing of the Limerick widower (39).
Both had been convicted of the Irish businessman's murder but successfully overturned it on appeal – and then secured a plea bargain deal in October 2023 whereby they admitted the voluntary manslaughter of the father of two.
North Carolina authorities late last year allowed the parole supervision of the family's former nanny to be transferred to her native Tennessee.
She was living in the basement of a home belonging to friends of her parents in Knoxville, Tennessee – a short distance from her own family home.
With the ending of her parole, Ms Martens is expected to move back into her family home with her parents, Tom and Sharon.
Sharon has been battling cancer over recent years.
His family have always maintained he was killed because he planned to bring his two children back to Ireland
Ms Martens indicated to the courts that she hopes to begin studies for a science degree next September.
The parole control period for the father and daughter ended on June 6 – but North Carolina and Tennessee authorities had to process documentation before confirming parole restrictions had finished.
Mr Corbett, a Limerick packaging industry executive, was beaten to death on August 2, 2015 in the bedroom of his luxury North Carolina home by the father and daughter.
His family have always maintained he was killed by his American second wife and father in law because he planned to bring his two children back to Ireland.
Both Tom and Molly Martens insisted they acted in self defence –but the pair were found totally uninjured at the scene whereas Mr Corbett's skull had been so badly shattered that a pathologist warned he could not accurately count the number of blows inflicted.
Molly Martens and Jason Corbett on their wedding day in 2011
One forensic expert indicated he was asleep in bed when the initial blow was struck.
Prosecutors claimed seven years ago that an attempt had been made to drug Mr Corbett before he was fatally assaulted.
His killers then delayed calling police and paramedics to ensure he was dead before they arrived.
Mr Corbett's life insurance policy had been changed by remote means several weeks earlier to exclude his two children, with the entire benefits of the policy going to Ms Martens.
The Martens served three years and eight months of 20-25 year prison terms before their convictions were overturned by the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Molly Martens Corbett arrives with an attorney at the Davidson County Courthouse on Tuesday morning. Photo: Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch
News in 90 Seconds - June 17th
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