A Deadly American Marriage: 5 Horrifying Things we Learned from the Chilling real-life case

Netflix’s latest true crime documentary A Deadly American Marriage, unravels the shocking and heartbreaking story of Irishman Jason Corbett, who was brutally killed in 2015 by his American wife, Molly Martens, and her ex-FBI father, Tom Martens. 

Directed by American Murder’s Jenny Popplewell and American Monsters’ Jessica Burgess, the series not only exposes the gruesome details of Jason’s death but also follows the disturbing legal aftermath and emotional trauma faced by his children. Here are five of the most horrifying revelations from the documentary:

1. The Crime Scene was "One of the Bloodiest" Investigators had seen

Jason Corbett’s murder was nothing short of brutal. Investigators revealed that Jason suffered an uncountable number of head blows, so severe that a piece of his skull fell out during the autopsy. His wife and father-in-law claimed self-defense, yet neither had a scratch on them. Wanda Thompson of Davidson County Sheriff’s Department said in the doc, "It’s one of the bloodiest crime scenes I’ve seen in a long time."

Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin was brought to tears while discussing the autopsy photos, calling it the most horrific he had seen in 30 years. He said (via Forbes): “He had so many blows to his head that the pathologist couldn’t count them because they overlapped and a chunk of Jason’s skull fell out onto the table. It takes an incredible amount of force to cause that kind of injury.”

2. Molly and Tom’s Chilling 911 call Raised Red Flags

One of the key moments in the documentary is the suspicious nature of the 911 call made by Molly and Tom. They can be heard counting out CPR compressions in perfect rhythm—something EMS workers said was impossible under real stress. Even more unsettling: when paramedics arrived, Jason’s body was already cold to the touch, suggesting CPR was never genuinely attempted.

3. Jason’s Children were Coached into Defending Molly

Jason’s children, Jack and Sarah, were not only in the house during the murder—they were emotionally manipulated afterward. Initially defending Molly, they now reveal she coached them into lying. Jack, who testified via video call, admitted she told him to accuse his father of abuse or risk never seeing her again. The children were later targeted in a public custody campaign by Molly, including social media posts and even an airplane banner flown over their school.

4. The Defense Tried to Blame Jason for his First Wife’s Death

In a shocking twist, the Martens’ defense team attempted to implicate Jason in the death of his first wife, Mags Fitzpatrick, who died from a severe asthma attack in 2006. They suggested manual strangulation despite no physical evidence or autopsy support. Mags’ family strongly refuted the claim, with her sister Catherine—who was present during Mags’ final moments—describing how Jason desperately tried to save her life.

5. Molly and Tom Martens have been Released from Prison

Despite being convicted of second-degree murder, both Molly and Tom Martens were released from prison in June 2024. After an appeal, they entered a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter. Jason’s children were forced to relive their trauma during victim impact statements, and Sarah later published a book about her experience titled A Time For Truth. The documentary captures their pain and strength, making it an emotionally devastating watch.

A Deadly American Marriage is more than a true crime documentary—it’s a haunting portrait of a shattered family and the long shadow of grief and injustice. It’s a story that lingers long after the credits roll.

A Deadly American Marriage documentary is now streaming on Netflix.