Fury over Martens family’s funds appeal
SUPPORTERS of Tom and Molly Martens have set up a fundraising page seeking money for their legal appeal – but their efforts were met with an angry response from Jason Corbett’s family and outraged online commenters.
Molly’s aunt, Mona Earnest, set up a page on the GoGetFunding website on Thursday appealing for $300,000. The money is being sought to cover the father and daughter’s legal bills – and to fund an appeal of their conviction, as well as their defence of a civil action being taken by victim Mr Corbett’s family.
The fundraiser was criticised heavily by Mr Corbett’s brother John, who said: ‘Narcissism runs through the blood of the Martens family. Even though they were found guilty of seconddegree murder by their peers, they still desperately try to appeal their sentence.
‘From the night they [Tom and Molly Martens] murdered my brother they have done their best to disrupt and hurt my family as a whole. This continues with regard to the fundraising page.’
He said his family ‘will continue to support and love each other and will forever remember my kid brother Jason as a wonderful father, brother and caring, loving human being’. He added: ‘Justice prevailed.’ The Martens family’s online appeal states: ‘The legal expenses have gutted the family financially. The next step is to file an appeal and fight the wrongful death suit. We desperately need your help.’
However, supporters of the Corbett family have reacted angrily online to the creation of the page. One said: ‘I would encourage anyone NOT to donate to this campaign and to read the facts of the case.
‘Molly and Tom put the Corbett family through sheer hell and continue to do so through their extended family. STOP.’
Last night, some $6,874 had been raised from 42 backers, with a minimum donation of $10 being accepted.
A payment of $1,999 was made by one member of the Martens family, but the majority of donations were made anonymously.
The page – called Right the Wrong, Help Molly and Tom – claims the father and daughter were wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and that Tom was trying to protect Molly from her husband.
The page’s description said: ‘Tom, a 31-year veteran of the FBI, immediately responded to her screams and found her being strangled by her husband.
‘Tom went to Molly’s defence, and in a battle for their lives, the husband died.’
Several slurs on Mr Corbett’s character, including allegations of abuse, were removed from the page.
The online response to the appeal has been almost universally negative, with one commenter writing: ‘The information that you are providing on this is false and misleading, Mona is continuing to torment a family that lost their father.
‘Molly presented no evidence of abuse in the house at court because it didn’t happen and has now started to spread lies about Jason.
‘Just think about why did she not say in court she was being abused why why ???’
Another wrote: ‘Disgusting. Nothing but a pack of lies. Shame on you and anyone who supports.
‘It’s an insult to the real victims of domestic violence.’
Lawyers representing Molly and Tom Martens have indicated they will be appealing the guilty verdict of the Davidson County Court. They will remain in prison while awaiting their appeal, which will be heard sometime in the next 18 months.