A Vermont man is facing murder charges after being accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 82-year-old neighbor and then burning and burying her remains, authorities said.
On Thursday, July 25, Darren Martell, 23, of St. Albans, was arrested and then charged the following day with aggravated murder in connection with the death of Roberta Martin of Enosburgh, Vt., State Police said in a statement.
Martell appeared in St. Albans Court on Friday, July 26, and pleaded not guilty, WCAX, the Concord Monitor and the Associated Press report.
He entered the plea as Martin’s family and friends, who were “noticeably emotional,” watched the proceedings, WCAX reports.
Martin was reported missing by a neighbor on Wednesday, July 17, the VSP said in an earlier statement. Martin’s family members had last spoke by phone to her the night before at 11:30 p.m., police said.
Police called her disappearance “suspicious” in ensuing updates on the case. Investigators found signs of a break-in at her home, the VSP said.
The day after Martin vanished, Martell was seen on camera talking to police, WCAX reports.
On Sunday, July 21, Martin’s body was found in a wooded area off of Sand Hill Road in Enosburgh, close to Martin’s home, VSP said.
Martell is alleged to have sexually assaulted Martin before killing her, the VSP said.
Her remains were burned and then buried, authorities said, NBC 5 reports.
On Monday, July 22, Martell was arrested and charged with alleged lewd and lascivious conduct after witnesses say he was masturbating in public, VSP said.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge on Tuesday, July 23, and was held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans on $500 bail.
He was still in jail when he was arrested and charged in connection with Martin’s death. Martell is scheduled to return to court next week.
It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
This guy is really a pos! Vermont has a lot of liberals that support life in prison which makes no sense. If you kill someone especially and elder person and rape them you should die. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to support garbage like this and overcrowd our prisons. I just hope when this guy gets to prison everyday is pure misery.
He looks like he is 40 years old.
Another 20 something year old American POS punk!!!!!
If this country truly valued life….we would have capital punishment….. AND ACTUALLY USE IT!!!!
Doesnt make sense why liberals are anti capital punishment bu pro abortion. On the other hand if this POS would have been aborted none of this would have happened.