Netflix releasing doc on 2015 death of Jason Corbett in Davidson County
Jason’s wife, Molly, and her father, Thomas Martens were convicted of second-degree murder in the case but had their convictions overturned.
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — Next month, Netflix is set to release a true crime documentary on the death of Irish businessman Jason Corbett, who was killed inside his home in Davidson County back on Aug. 2, 2015.
The documentary, titled A Deadly American Marriage, promises to “shed a bright light on the many questions that have lingered since the shocking events of that night.” It is set to premiere on the streaming service on May 6.
The case was also featured in an episode of 48 Hours back in 2019 titled “In Jason’s name”.
Jason’s wife, Molly Corbett, and her father, Thomas Martens, were ultimately convicted of second-degree murder in the case in 2017, but their convictions were eventually overturned after a successful appeal in 2021 because of errors that led to the pair not having a “full and meaningful” defense.
In November 2023, Martens pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and Molly Corbett pleaded no contest. They both received a new sentence of 51-74 months in prison and were released from custody in June 2024.
The events that led to Jason Corbett’s death began in August 2015 when Molly’s parents came to town to visit the couple and Jason’s two children. Late that evening, Tom Martens said he woke up to find the couple arguing and Jason strangling his daughter.
Martens hit Jason in the head with a metal baseball bat before the two became involved in a struggle. Molly Corbett then hit Jason with a brick paver that was left on the nightstand. Defense attorneys claimed the two acted in self-defense.
Jason left behind two children, Jack and Sarah, who were 10 and 8 years old, respectively, at the time their father was killed.
The documentary is being produced and directed by Jessica Burgess and Jenny Popplewell. Burgess has been a producer on documentaries Rich & Shameless and American Monster, while Popplewell directed American Murder: The Family Next Door — a documentary on the murders of Shanann Watts and her two children by her husband and their father, Chris Watts.