Chapter 1

THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER

IT HAD been a typical August day in the Carolinas.

Temperatures had soared to the high 90s, humidity levels were above 80pc and those not used to the intense heat of a southern US summer suffered as a result.

Across the US state of North Carolina those who could flee the heat headed towards either the beach, the lake or the cool of the mountains by the Tennessee border.

For those who remained, it was a question of getting the work of the day done as quickly as possible so that the glorious summer day could be enjoyed either in the shade, at a picnic or in the garden.

The very young and the elderly stayed close to the air-conditioned comfort of homes and shopping malls.

Panther Creek Court, in the northern part of the state, close to the small town of Wallburg and midway between the larger urban centres of Winston-Salem and Lexington, was home in 2015 to Limerick-born Jason Corbett (39) and his family which included his American-born wife, Molly Martens-Corbett (31), and his two children, Jack (11) and Sarah (8).

Panther Creek Court was in many ways a perfect embodiment of the American dream. Its homes were architect designed and boasted every imaginable modern convenience. The entire community was within a private gated area and had access to a golf club, tennis courts, playground and leisure centre.

Typical of the south, almost every home had the US Stars and Stripes flag flying from its front porch or lawn, given the fact Independence Day was just three weeks earlier.

Neighbours worked hard to secure a home in this middle-class community – and typically looked out for each other.

The Corbett family had spent that Saturday, August 1, in typical suburban American fashion: Jason had mowed the lawn, Sarah had played with her local friends around her home, Molly had prepared dinner and Jack had attended a birthday party for a friend living locally.

Jason, having finished mowing the lawn, had joined his next door neighbour, David Fritzche, for a few beers as both enjoyed the blazing sunshine on deck chairs on their front lawns.

Their two wives, Molly and Michelle, eventually joined them – the group only parting ways when Molly’s parents, Thomas and Sharon Martens, arrived from Knoxville in Tennessee, some four hours away, for an unexpected visit that evening.

They arrived around 8.30pm and Jason immediately went over to help bring the suitcases from his parents-in-law’s car into the cool of his three-level home. Everything seemed perfectly normal.

The Fritzche family said a quick ‘hello’ to the Martens and then went back inside their

own home to freshen up before heading out for dinner with their own two children. It was the last time anyone outside the Martens family would see Jason Corbett alive.

There was no inkling locally of the horror that was about to unfold just a few hours later.

In the Davidson County 911 emergency call centre, dispatcher Karen Capps, a 16-year veteran, began work at 6pm that Saturday evening. Her shift meant she was due to finish at 6am on Sunday, August 2.

The Davidson County centre handled all 911 calls and co-ordinated the response of fire brigade, police and ambulance services.

At 3.02am the dispatcher logged a 911 emergency call from the Corbett home at

Panther Creek Court.

The 14-minute 911 call transpired as follows: Dispatcher: Davidson County 911, what is the address of the emergency? Thomas Martens: My name is Tom Martens, I’m at Panther Creek Court and we need help. D: Okay, what’s going on there?

Thomas: My daughter’s husband, my son-in-law, got in a fight with my daughter. I intervened and I think – he’s in bad shape. We need help. D: Okay, what do you mean he’s in bad shape, he’s hurt?

Thomas: He’s bleeding all over and I may have killed him. D: Give me your address again, make sure I got it right.

Thomas:: XXX Panther Creek Court.

D: What is your name?

Thomas: My name is Tom Martens.

D: Alright, Tom, give me the phone number you’re calling from.

Thomas: I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m the father, I’m visiting. I don’t know. D: Was he drinking?

Thomas: Yes, he had been drinking during the course of the day.

D: Are you with him now?

Thomas: I am.

D: How old is he?

Thomas: How old is he? 39. D: Is he conscious at all?

Thomas: No. D: Is he breathing?

Thomas: I can’t tell.

D: What I need you to do is I need someone to roll him onto his back, right on his back.

Thomas: Okay, hang on.

Thomas: He’s a big heavy man, I can’t do it. D: Is there anyone there that can help you.

Thomas: My daughter, she’s in terrible shape.

D: Someone needs to get him on his back. We need to verify he’s breathing.

Thomas: I’m trying. D: Okay, just put the phone on speaker.

Thomas: Okay, I’ve got him rolled over.

D: All right. I want you to put one hand under his back, the other hand on his forehead and tilt his head back. Put your ear next to his mouth and tell me if you can hear or feel any breathing?

Thomas: I can’t (unclear) anything, no.

D: Okay, I’m sending the paramedics and ambulance to help you, now stay on the line.

Thomas: Okay.

D: Tell me what happened, did you hit him in the head or…

Thomas: I hit him in the head.

D: With what?

Thomas: With a baseball bat.

D: With a baseball bat?

Thomas: Yes, ma’am. He was choking my daughter, he said: ‘I’m going to kill her.’ D: Alright, we’re sending the paramedics to help you now. Where is the baseball bat?

Thomas: It’s in the bedroom here with me.

D: Okay, just don’t touch it anymore, okay?

Thomas: Yes, M’am.

D: We’ve already got them started that way, just don’t hang up – stay with me.

Thomas: I won’t.

D: Alright, so we’re going to start CPR. He is still on his back?

Thomas: He is.

D: Alright, I need you to make sure his mouth and nose are clear.

Thomas: He’s a mess.

D: I know, you need to clear it.

Thomas: Okay. Just get me like a wash cloth or something [Thomas speaks to someone else]. Yes they’re sending somebody. Okay.

D: Alright, everything is clear?

Thomas: Yeah, as clear as I can get it, he’s covered in blood.

D: Alright, listen carefully, I’m going to tell you how to do chest compressions. Make sure he’s flat on his back, no pillows under his head, place the heel of your hand...

Thomas: There’s no pillows under his head…

D: Nothing under his head…

Thomas: Yeah, got it. D: First of all, tell your daughter to go unlock the door and turn on the porch light.

Thomas: Go unlock the door and turn on the porch light (speaking to someone). D: Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone on the centre of his chest right between the nipple.

Thomas: I’m somewhat familiar with this.

[Begins CPR.]

Thomas: Hold this… I’m handing the phone to my daughter.

D: Alright, that’s fine. Hey, are you with me?

Molly Martens: Yes. D: I need you to calm down so that we can help him. Okay? Alright, your dad’s going to need some help pumping. I need you to get ready to pump. Okay? Molly: Okay.

D: When he gets to 200 pumps you’re going to take over.

Molly: Okay.

D: I need you to stay calm.

Molly: I’m certified, I just can’t think.

D: You have to stay calm, let your training take over. We need to try and do this to help him.

Molly: Okay.

[Molly begins CPR.]

D: Are you tired? Is she pumping? You count for her if you can.

Thomas: I’ll count… 1, 2, 3, 4. D: She’s doing a good job.

Thomas: She’s a swim coach, she’s certified.

D: Yes, she said she’s certified. Her training is taking over now. You just get prepared to take over for her again. Don’t stop between. Make the change quick… she’s slowly down... Are you rested enough to take over for her?

Thomas: I guess I have to be.

D: You’re doing good… don’t stop. Don’t freak, I need you to stay with me. Keep counting.

Molly: 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4.

D: All right, Tom…try and rest, you’re going to take over for your daughter again. [Molly continues CPR.]

Thomas: I’m not seeing any signs of life here.

D: We’re just keeping the blood circulating, keeping the oxygen in there until we can get some air up there.

Molly: 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4.

D: Alright, she’s slowing down, you feel like taking over for her?

Thomas: I’ll try.

D: What’s your name?

Molly: [sobbing] Molly.

D: Listen to me, this is the count, 1, 2, 3, 4….

D: Take over for your dad.

Molly: 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4.

Thomas: Looks like I got lights here.

D: Alright, just keep going, don’t stop…

Thomas: Keep going.

D: I need you to take over the compression because she’s going to have to do mouth-tomouth. Alright, you ready?

Thomas: They’re coming in now. D: Just keep pumping, let me know when they’re right with them.

Molly: 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4. Thomas: My daughter’s trying to… Molly: 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4… 1, 2, 3, 4. D: Sir? Molly: Yes? D: All right, take your daughter and back away and let them do their job. Thomas: Let them do their job [speaking to someone]. [Molly Martens sobbing.]

D: Try and keep her calm, okay? You all did a good job. Thomas: Molly, Molly, let them do their job. Okay, they’re here now. D: Okay, can you take Molly out of the room?

Thomas: Molly, she suggests we get out of the room. D: Okay, are you okay? I understand, as much as possible, are you okay? Thomas: Yeah, I’m okay. D: Law enforcement’s on their way, if there’s anything else I can do just let me know, okay? Thomas: No, I need to get my daughter out of there. D: Call us back if you need us. Thomas: Molly – come on out of there. [CALL ENDS]