‘No, Molly’s hair has NOT been changed’
Prison boss denies that Martens’ hair was cut and dyed
PRISON bosses have debunked claims that husband-killer Molly Martens’ hair has been cut and dyed a different colour against her will.
And they have also revealed that any dramatic change to her appearance would first have to be formally approved by them because of the risk of the 34-year-old escaping from prison with a new identity.
Last month, Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens were given 25-year jail sentences after they were convicted of the murder of Molly’s Limerick-born husband Jason Corbett. The father and daughter are appealing the conviction and their family have launched a fundraising appeal to pay for a legal bid to over overturn the decision
This week, in an emotional online posting, Molly’s younger brother Connor accused prison authorities of ‘stripping’ his sister of ‘any external dignity’ by cutting and dyeing her hair against her will.
His Facebook message read: ‘Upon entering prison on August 9, she was not given shower shoes or a tooth brush for the first nine days. This prevented her from showering and obviously brushing her teeth.
‘There is no air conditioning. Over 15 people have passed out in her short time there. There are no activities. On rare occasions, she gets to go outside only to be reprimanded for walking too fast in her attempt to get exercise.
‘Her hair has been dyed and cut against her will, stripping her of any external dignity she may have had left.’
All inmates serving time in prison in North Carolina are photographed on entering the jail and these pictures are then held on a publicly accessible central database. As recently as yesterday, Martens – known as offender 1551729 – can be seen on the central database wearing a baggy grey V-neck tunic, with her distinctive blonde hair worn around her shoulders.
This picture, shown above, is the third of three mugshots of Martens. It was taken on August 9, when she was committed to the North Carolina Correctional Institute. The second mugshot was taken earlier that day just after she was led away from court after being sentenced.
The first was taken after her initial arrest. If Martens’ appearance had changed – that is to say if she had more than one inch of hair removed or any colour change – prison bosses told the Irish Mail on Sunday this week that a new mugshot would have to be taken, and uploaded onto the publicly available database.
According to prison bosses, Martens was transferred from the women’s section of the North Carolina Correctional Institute on Wednesday to the Southern Correctional Institute because of overcrowding.
Speaking to the MoS, Southern Correctional Institute Superintendent Miranda Richardson, said: ‘The picture on the database was taken on August 9.
‘When inmates come in they have ID cards and our policy is that they can have one inch cut off their hair. Offenders can all sign up for service in [the prison’s] cosmetology school. But if they want to change their hairstyle, they have to get approval from myself.
‘If they want a major haircut, they have to be approved. A new photo is taken and they are given a new ID card because there is a danger they could escape.
‘We don’t allow them to change their appearance. We don’t have a policy of cutting or colouring hair against the inmate’s will and I’m sure it’s the same at the NCCI.’
When asked if Martens had been transferred because of a health issue, Ms Richardson replied: ‘No.’
She added: ‘Bed space at the NCCI is limited and I have bed space here.
‘She can put in a request [for her health] to be reviewed.’
Jason Corbett was beaten to death at his North Carolina home on August 1, 2015, by Martens and her father Thomas.
The MoS was unable to contact Molly Martens’ solicitor or family for comment yesterday.
‘We don’t allow them to change appearance’ ‘Moved here because we have more bed space’