A Deadly American Marriage is Netflix’s newest true crime documentary, which tells the story Jason Corbett, an Irishman who was living in North Carolina with his second wife, Molly Martens, and two children, until his brutal death in mid-2015.
Jason was a widower and fell for Molly when she was working as a au pair, looking after his two kids, Jack and Sarah, in Limerick, Ireland. They married in 2011 and moved Stateside, where Jason would be found beaten to death in his home four years later.
In 2017, Molly and her father, Thomas Martens, were convicted of second-degree murder — though, in 2021, both of their convictions were overturned and a retrial ordered.
While Molly and Thomas allege Jason was abusive, Sarah and Jack say this isn’t true, and even claim they were brainwashed by Molly into lying about their father.
Now, all the key figures in the case have shared their respective versions of events with Netflix for the documentary, including Sharon Martens — Molly’s mother and Thomas’ wife.
Who Is Sharon Martens?
Sharon Martens was a maths teacher. She is the mother of Molly Martens and wife of Thomas Martens, a former FBI agent.
In 2017, Molly and Thomas were both convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison.
Their convictions were overturned in 2021 and a retrial ordered. In October 2023, Molly pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter. Thomas pleaded guilty to the same charge. Both were sentenced to time served and released last year. They are both on probation until next month.
Was Sharon Martens Ever Convicted of Anything Relating to Jason Corbett's Death?
Sharon was never convicted of anything.
Sharon did not testify in the original trial and her statement to police officers on the night of Jason’s death was not made public until the retrial in 2023. In the statement, per The Irish Times, Sharon told police that Jason was “clearly drunk but friendly” when her and Thomas arrived at Jason and Molly’s home around 8:30pm.
Sharon claimed that just after midnight, she heard “thumps and bangs, and dogs barking.” She told the detective, “I heard Molly scream. Thomas got up and went up,” and said things then calmed down and she fell asleep.
The prosecution queried her version of events in court during the retrial.
Are Sharon & Thomas Martens Still Together?
Despite her husband having spent several years in prison, Sharon and Thomas Martens are still together.
Per The Irish Times, Sharon visited her husband and daughter frequently over the years while they were incarcerated.
Where Is Sharon Martens Now?
The Irish Times reports that the process of Molly and Thomas fighting their conviction took a toll on the family’s finances, and that they had to sell their holiday home.
Sharon faced cancer while Thomas and Molly were incarcerated.
She has since been reunited with them following their release in 2024.
