THE sister of Janesboro native Jason Corbett, who was beaten to death by his wife and father-in-law, has described mistakes made by US authorities around the killers’ detention as a “mockery of justice”.
According to latest reports, Molly and Tom Martens were due be transferred to high security prisons today (Tuesday) after US authorities had mistakenly calculated their early release.
A major investigation is now underway in North Carolina into the situation whereby the parole board had slated the father and daughter pair – who beat Mr Corbett’s to death using a metal baseball bat and a slab of concrete paving – could qualify for early release having served just one month of a seven-month sentence extension after they pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Despite reports last month that the Martens were sent to separate prisons to serve out the remainder of their sentences, they have been held in custody at Davidson County jail – over three weeks after their sentencing on November 8.
Journalist Ralph Rigel reported that the North Carolina Department of Corrections (NCDP) confirmed that Tom Martens, a former FBI agent and counter-intelligence operative, was previously due to be released on parole this Tuesday (December 4) while his daughter, Molly, was to be released this Wednesday (December 5).
The revelation sparked outrage as it came just four weeks after the pair were sentenced at a high-profile hearing at Lexington in Davidson County for the voluntary manslaughter of Mr Corbett (39) in August 2015, reported Rigel.
Both Molly and Tom Martens had already spent three years and eight months in custody on a second degree murder conviction, which was later overturned by the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Tracey Corbett Lynch, sister of Jason Corbett, said her family were “devastated” by the news of the early release and deeply hurt that they were not briefed in advance about it. It sparked a furious reaction from the Corbett family and justice campaigners who described it as “a betrayal” and “an insult to the memory” of Mr Corbett.
Now, the North Carolina authorities have admitted that the early parole dates were confirmed on foot of inaccurate calculations.
Prison release details and parole controls are calculated by the Combined Records Division of the NCDP, which is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. These are then notified to NCDP headquarters, which inform the relevant prison authorities.
In a statement released this Tuesday, NCDP confirmed that the December 5 and 6 release dates for Molly and Tom Martens were incorrect.
“After further review, the initial projected release dates calculated in response to the resentencing for Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens were found to be incorrect,” it advised. “The current projected release dates for both are June 27, 2024.”
The NCDP also confirmed that the pair “will be transferred to State prison facilities to complete the remainder of their sentences.”
The father and daughter will be sent to separate prisons and will now spend Christmas behind bars.
Molly Martens – who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder – underwent a third psychiatric evaluation in recent months as was placed on suicide watch in a North Carolina jail.
One psychiatrist, Dr David Adams, found that “the primary focus of her existence before she married Jason Corbett was to adopt these two children, divorce him and then have custody rights of the two children”.
