'Human error' to blame for Molly and Thomas Martens prison release mix-up

A correct calculation of their sentences means neither will be released from jail until June of next year

Molly and Tom Martens could be released by Wednessday. Picture: Jerry Wolford

"Human error" is behind the mix-up over prison release dates for killers Molly Martens and her father Tom.

That's according to a statement issued by The North Carolina Department of Corrections (NCDP) to the Irish Examiner this morning.

The father and daughter were jailed for a minimum of seven months and a maximum of 23 months at Davidson County Court in November, over the manslaughter of Limerick businessman Jason Corbett in 2015.

The pair who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, were returned to jail by Judge David Hall, where they have already served 44 months for the death of Mr Corbett.

This week, a mistake on the correctional facility’s website stated that the former FBI agent and his daughter could be released as early as today or tomorrow, sparking an outcry from Mr Corbett's family.

However that has now been confirmed to have been a mistake, and the correct calculation of their sentences means neither will be released from jail until June of next year.

Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens were transported today from the Davidson County Jail to the North Carolina state prison system to serve the remainder of their sentences.

Corbett was admitted to North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh, while Martens was admitted to Piedmont Correctional institution in Salisbury. These two prisons are admission centers in the North Carolina prison system. These offenders may be transferred to other prisons after the completion of the admission and evaluation process.

The current projected release dates for both are June 27, 2024. The online public information pages for them have been taken down temporarily to get them accurately updated.

In a statement today, the NCDP said: "After further review, the initial projected release dates calculated in response to resentencing for Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens were found to be incorrect".

"The current projected release dates for both are June 27, 2024. Corbett and Martens will be transferred to state prison facilities to complete the remainder of their sentences".

When asked if an internal investigation is due to take place as a result of the mistake, the department replied, “This was human error”.

'Pain and confusion

Earlier on Monday, the family of Jason Corbett said it was “unbelievable” that both the father and daughter who beat the Limerick man to death with a baseball bat and a brick could be released from prison this week.

Mr Corbett's family hit out at the "pain and confusion" caused by the uncertainty, which could lead to the killers being freed this week.

“Why were Jack and Sarah [Mr Corbett’s children] made sit through the hearing where their dad the victim was put on trial for 10 days, only for the Martens to spend three weeks in jail?” asked family spokeswoman and Mr Corbett’s cousin Nuala Galvin in a post on Instagram.

Jason's sister Tracey Corbett Lynch said the family was "appalled to have to learn about the early release of the Tom and Molly Martens, killers of our beloved Jason, via the Irish media".

"We were left completely in the dark by all North Carolina justice agencies in whom we had put our faith and trust in for the past eight years.

"The release of Tom and Molly Martens after spending just one month extra behind bars is an insult to Jason's memory and our family.

We cannot disagree with people who have described this decision as making a mockery of justice — and wonder why our family was put through the ordeal of a harrowing two week sentencing hearing for this outcome — to see Jason's killers behind bars for just an extra four weeks?

"We have also been given no explanation for why this decision to sanction such an early release was made despite repeated attempts to secure detailed answers.

"We are devastated by this outcome and feel very badly let down by the North Carolina justice system.

"However, we want to put on record our gratitude to all the ordinary people of North Carolina who have shown us such kindness and solidarity since Jason was cruelly taken from us in August 2015.”

Jason's cousin Nuala Galvin added in a post on Instagram: “If you handed me a script of the handling of Jason’s case. I would hand it back and tell you it’s too unbelievable. It was too far-fetched.

“No victim so cruelly murdered could be treated this shamelessly."

She also asked: "Why did I have to confirm to Jason's family that this imminent release was actually true because a Fox News article was sent to me?"

In 2017, the Martens were convicted of second degree murder and given sentences of between 20-25 years but after serving 44 months in prison, they struck a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter after pleading self-defence last month.

District Attorney Garry Frank told local reporters in Caroline: “I was surprised it was this soon but it is totally the decision of [the North Carolina Department of Correction] based on the sentence imposed by Judge David Hall.

“After his sentence I had no input.”

It is understood the decision to release the killers was made by the North Carolina Department of Correction combined records department.

This is where the sentences inmates serve are examined and a release date worked out based on previous time served.

According to the North Carolina Department Of Adult Correction Offender Public Information portal, Molly Martens' “projected release date” is listed as December 6, 2023.

Jason Corbett

It lists her incarceration status as “active” and that she was admitted on November 29, into the regular population.

Her conviction date for manslaughter is down as November 8, “with a total incarceration term of 6 years 2 months”.

Her father’s “projected release date” is down as today.

In the Instagram post on the @jasoncorbettjourney page, Nuala said: “Where is the respect to the other victims of [Molly Martens'] violence and abuse, Jack and Sarah?

“Is this the biggest example of white privilege and the 'boys club' in action? When will Davidson County justice system hang their heads in shame?

“Why couldn’t they even give Jack and Sarah Christmas?"

Mr Corbett’s family gave powerful victim impact statements in court last month.

His children Jack, 19, and Sarah, 17, read theirs in court to the judge, as did their aunt Tracey Corbett-Lynch, with whom they have lived since her brother’s death.

Molly Martens who was seated with her counsel could be heard crying when Jack Corbett described her as a “monster”.

Both he and his sister sobbed as they pleaded with the judge to impose “the maximum sentence” on their father’s killers.

Sarah Corbett was the last to give her statement and said she was “traumatised” over her father’s death and that her life “is filled with anniversaries of deaths” and that the “Martens have made me an orphan”.