Their next-door neighbor, Edward Dansereaus, charred body was also in the car with her. Martin, 53, was found guilty ofthree murders,as well as one count of first-degree arson, one count of attempted arson, two counts offirst-degree burglary and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. His trial was originally scheduled to happen in Christian County, but pre-trial publicity prompted a judge to order it be held over 100 miles away in Kentucky's Hardin County. "I am grateful to our special prosecutors, Barbara Whaley and Alex Garcia, as well as the Kentucky State Police and the Christian County Sheriffs Office for their work in this case," Cameron added. But Phillips also told investigators that Harmon had never said she or her children were abused by Martin. The indictment stems from events that occurred on or about November 18, 2015, in which Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his home located in Pembroke, Kentucky. Defense attorney Tom Griffiths told Chief Circuit Judge John Atkins during Thursdays court appearance they were made aware of a box of items that has not been inventoried by the police. The cellphone analysis purportedly showed Martin took Pamela Phillips phone & drove with it toward Fort Campbell, where he worked. However, defense Griffiths indicated that either one of both failed the polygraph & that those tests should be allowed for him to present a defense for his client. She had a warmth about her that I think, biased as I may be, was incredibly rare," Matt Phillips said. Martin's ex-wife, Joan Harmon, and her son invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying in the case. The jury heard conflictingaccountsof the crime, which went unsolved for years. Christian Martin was arrested at Louisville Airport in connection to a 2015 triple murder case. His defense team argues the grand jury indicted him based on misleading testimony from an investigator about the cellphone tower evidence. Harmon told WSMV in 2016 that she never had an affair with Phillips, and while she admitted to pleading guilty to bigamy, she did so because she couldnt afford an attorney. Another twist in pilot's triple murder charges - The Courier-Journal Martin was arrested at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on May 10, 2019, the same day a Christian County grand jury indicted him on 10 counts. Martin claims hes innocent, saying he was home with his fiance the day the killings occurred. And so I owed him for that really," Martin said. "Everyone in town knew what was going on while I was at work every day," Martin said. Following the murders, Martin, who goes by "Kit" and served in the Army from 1986 to 2016, was grilled by military investigators, and his house was raided by a SWAT team, according to NBC affiliate WSMV. As for Pamela and Edward, the authorities think that these two were collateral damage to Christians actions. In a statement, relatives said they were "haunted by what was done to them and haunted further that someone was still free to do as they wish, beyond the civility of mankind or laws of our nation.". On the ground, investigators spotted a. That computer has since been sent to the FBI Crime Lab in Quantico, Virginia & the defense has been assured a report will be made available by next week. Former American Airlines pilot convicted in Kentucky triple murder He was found guilty of three counts of murder, one count of arson in the first degree, one count of attempted arson, two counts of burglary in the first degree, and three counts of tampering with physical evidence, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced on Wednesday. What had happened here? At the trial, three witnesses also testified that Calvin and Pamela were afraid for their lives in the months preceding their deaths because they believed that Christian was out to get them to keep his reputation as a friendly, family man intact. Court info from 5/22/19 thru 5/21/21 reference post #99 here: You must log in or register to reply here. "The families and the Pembroke community have endured a profound loss. Nonetheless, the Army veteran never conceded what he would say on the stands when the time came. Menu Log In Sign Up "My private investigator went through all the allegations with him and just went down the whole line and just refuted everything. "I think that notion of this star witness thing is absurd, Calvin Phillip's sister, Diana Phillips, told WSMV in 2017. The three victims would be identified as: Calvin Phillips, age 58 - he was the victim found in the home He was still wearing his pilots uniform when he was booked. Griffiths told The Courier Journal in a statement that "we disagree with the verdict, but we understand the jury did their best with the information they had.". Martin said he considered Phillips an asset in his case. This woman had basically been milking me for eight years, and I didnt know it. As the sentencing phase began Thursday morning in the Hardin County courtroom, John Phillips took the stand to talk about his first-born son"Cal"and how his death was "the most devastating thing" to ever happen to thefamily. The then-American Airlines commercial pilot stood trial for murder, arson, burglary, and tampering with evidence in connection to this case in 2021. JavaScript is disabled. This was an attack not only on my family but on the entire justice system.". And so I owed him for that really," Martin said in the interview. Friends and Family of Cal & Pam Phillips. "My mom was incredibly kind. When Martin and Harmon split, she had promised him "I will ruin your career, I will ruin your life, I know how to do it," he said. He was punitively dismissed from the Army, forfeited all pay and allowances and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Calvin Phillips, 59, was found shot to death Nov. 18, 2015, in his home in Pembroke, a town of about 900 residents that is 10 miles southeast of Hopkinsville. Calvin Lee Phillips (59) & Pamela J Phillips (57), passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, in Pembroke. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. That candidate, Andy Beshear, is now Kentuckys governor, and the case is being tried by the Office of Attorney General Daniel Cameron, best known for his handling of the police-involved shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Pilot accused of triple murder claimed in interview one victim had Which Republicans voted against Juneteenth? "He was passed out in the road, ODd like a couple months before the murders too," Martin said. I can't access it - if anyone reading here can - could you give a 10% synopsis - and maybe - hopefully, they have the next court date in there? The house was empty, but then police opened the cellar door. AN EX-ARMY pilot was found guilty on Wednesday of murdering three neighbors - one of whom he claimed had an affair with his bigamist ex-wife and was testifying in his child rape court-martial trial. While this verdict in no way eases that pain, I hope that they find some peace and comfort today.". 1 of 2. Yet he claims that after they split, Harmon accused him of rape, sodomy, child abuse, child molestation, and stealing a military computer. Prosecutors had argued Phillips was scheduled to testify against Martin in his court-martial trial two weeks after his murder. PEMBROKE, Ky. A former commercial pilot and US Army major is accused in the deaths of three neighbors in a sordid web of allegations including infidelity, murder and political opportunism. Christian was their neighbor across the street and a then-Army Major awaiting a court-martial on several charges. Pembroke triple murder jury trial continues with - Kentucky New Era During closing arguments, Griffiths showed the dog tags to the jury and called it "the most ridiculous piece of evidence I've ever seen in my life.". Another man, Calvin Lee Phillips, 53, was found dead in a home at 443 S. Main St. that same day with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. His arrest came one day after a grand jury in Christian County, Kentucky, indicted him on three counts of murder, one count of arson, one count of attempted arson, two counts of burglary and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. He claimed that he had not been jealous of her affair with Calvin Phillips as it had gotten me out of this huge mess.. He's an honest man. "And the other thing he had done for me was he had gotten me out of this bigamist relationship. It would take more than three years to make an arrest, three years to untangle a tale of a neighborhood torn apart. "I think his motivation was if I get this guy out of the picture, then I can keep this mistress across the street," Martin said. Defense lawyer Tom Griffiths puts one of the lead investigators on the spot about his missteps in the case, specifically: Misleading grand jury testimony about cellphone evidence, Matt Phillips, son of victims Pam and Cal Phillips, gives emotional testimony describing how he learned about his parents death. He will be returned to Christian County while he waits for trial. Legal correspondent Julia Jena, Senior Director Grace Wong and field producers Joy Nakrin and Emanuella Grinberg contributed to this report. Special prosecutors Barbara Whaley and Alex Garcia told the jury that Martin killed Calvin Phillips because hewas about to testifyinMartinsmilitary court-martial trial on multiple charges. She alerted Matt, who testified it was a spent 45 caliber shell casing. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. However, she says Lt. Smith gave a volume of other additional evidence to the grand jury in addition to the cell tower records, most importantly a shell casing found at the murder scene., 4/29/21 Update: Defense attorneys are still waiting for evidentiary reports from prosecutors & police. Jun 4, 2021 0 The second day of the 2015 Pembroke triple murder trial took place Friday as the prosecution called three more witnesses to testify before the jury. While they were helping her, they found discs labeled secret operation and a photograph of alleged abuse of Martins step-son. Calvin and Pamela Phillips' son, Matt Philips, told CNN his father helped build an Army case against Martin, who had served for 30 years. The military court eventually convicted Martin on one count of mishandling classified information and one count of assault on a child. A cell phone expert testifies claims that Martins phone and PPs phone were traveling in the same direction are wrong. Calvin Phillips, 59, was found dead in his Pembroke, Kentucky, home on Nov.19, and the remains of Dansereau and Pamela Phillips, 58, were discovered in a burned vehicle in a field. As per records, Christians now-ex-wife, Joan, was supposedly having an affair with Calvin, and she also had problems with Christian. Goosehead Insurance - Matthew Phillips | Pikeville KY - Facebook As Christian R. "Kit" Martin, a former Army Ranger major and pilot for the American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines, sat in jail without bail awaiting arraignment on murder charges stemming from the 2015 killings of his neighbors Calvin and Pamela Phillips and Edward Dansereau, his fiance came to his defense. Christian Martin. Asked in the interview if he believed he would be charged in the killings, Martin told WSMV, "No, I have no worries about that. Airplane pilot pleads not guilty in Kentucky triple murder case And I was like, Im golden.". The families and the Pembroke community have endured a profound loss, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in a statement Wednesday night. Matt says his father, his mother, and their neighbor were trying to help Martins ex-wife and her son move. "And the other thing he had done for me was he had gotten me out of this bigamist relationship. Join Facebook to connect with Matt Phillips and others you may know. That is how neighbors Edward Dansereau and married couple Calvin and Pamela Phillips lost their lives. The fiance of a commercial pilot charged in a cold-case triple murder in Kentucky is speaking out, saying he's "100 percent innocent.". An arraignment has been set for May 22. We found 24 records for Matt Phillips in Hodgenville, Trenton and 14 other cities in Kentucky. Martin said in the April 2016 interview with WSMV that he suspected Harmon had been involved in a long-term affair with Calvin Phillips. The bodies of Phillips' wife, Pamela, and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau, were found in a burned up car owned by Mrs. Phillips a few miles away in a corn field. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. FERRIER FILES: Ex-wife of Army Major charged with triple murder - WZTV Calvin and Pam Phillips Murder: How Did They Die? Who Killed Them? American Airlines ex-pilot convicted in Kentucky 2015 triple murder Calvin Phillips was found fatally shot at his home in Pembroke, Kentucky, Attorney General Andy Beshear said Saturday. ABC station WTVD-TV in Durham, North Carolina, interview with NBC affiliate station WSMV-TV in Louisville, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The jury also began deliberating over Martin's sentence, with it not immediately known when a final punishment could be handed down. Griffiths suggested the dog tags and the other damning evidence the shell casing and military ID which mysteriously were missed by police who scoured the home must have been planted there, possibly by Martins angry ex-wife, who had vowed to ruin him. "My parents died for this court-martial," Matt Phillips said in 2019. The suspect, a pilot and former Army Major, was taken off a flight in handcuffs at the Louisvilles Muhammad Ali International Airport. All this is what Christians military trial was for. Both sides deliver their closing arguments, The jury finds Martin guilty on all charges, The defendant takes the stand and denies he killed his neighbors, Martin breaks down talking about his fianc, Defense firearms expert testified the bullets that killed CP were likely not fired from the defendants Glock, A deputy who responded to the domestic call made by the defendant and Joan Harmon did not arrest Martin because he saw no evidence of violence, Defs daughter takes the witness stand to testify that her stepmother threatened to destroy her dad after he said he wanted a divorce. The Kentucky Attorney General has announced the indictment of a man in a triple murder case from 2015. While this verdict in no way eases that pain, I hope that they find some peace and comfort today.". The sentencing phase of the trial beganThursday morning, featuring severalmembers ofthe Phillips and Dansereau families reading victim impact statements. Hence, the fact that Calvin admitted on record that he never heard about any sexual abuse made him the star witness for Christians defense, not the prosectors. LOUISVILLE, Ky. Two years after commercial airline pilot Christian Kit Martin was pulled off a jet at the Louisville airport and charged with a gruesome triple murder in western Kentucky, a jury Wednesday found him guilty and recommended he servelife in prison. "My private investigator went through all the allegations with him and just went down the whole line and just refuted everything. The bodies of Mr. Phillips' wife, Pamela, and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau, were found a few miles away in a corn field in a burned up car owned by Mrs. Phillips. Background: Ex-airline pilot finally goes on trial in gruesome Kentucky triple murder. Martin, on Nov. 18, 2015,fatally shot three of his neighbors:Edward Dansereau and Calvin and Pamela Phillips, a married couple, according to the attorney generals officeof special prosecutions. Fiancee of commercial pilot charged in Kentucky triple homicide says he Beshear: Man Indicted for 2015 Christian County Triple Murder Judge John Atkins asked both attorneys to submit a brief with a ruling to follow before trial. This was an attack not only on my family but on the entire justice system," he said. "My private investigator went through all the allegations with him and just went down the whole line and just refuted everything. The bodies of Pamela Phillips and Dansereau were found in Calvin. Yet he was finally indicted in May 2019 whiel he was working as a pilot at PSA Airlines - a subsidiary of American Airlines. The Kentucky Attorney General's office took over the case in 2017 after the Phillips' son, Matt Phillips, went to then-Attorney General Andy Beshear and expressed fear that the. According to reports, the trio was shot to death before Pam and Edward were moved to the isolated land and eventually set aflame. Matt Phillips adds more detail to his aunt Diana Phillips testimony about her discovery of two key pieces of evidence in the Phillips home: Dog tag belonging to Kit Martin found on shelf in the Phillips mudroom on 11/27/15, .45 shell casing found on back porch near cellar door in April 2016, Ed Dansereaus longtime companion/girlfriend gives illuminating testimony about his personality and timeline of her last interactions with him. At the bottom of the steps they found a mans body -- beaten and bullet-riddled. Beshear said his office took over the investigation after Matt Phillips, the son of the murdered couple, met with him two years ago and voiced fears the case might never be solved. Matt Phillips - Facebook Just trying to live your life is nearly impossible with that much pain and this is a step that allows us to go forward and heal, Phillips said of AG Beshears help. Calvin was an Army veteran and Pam served at a local bank after spending roughly 10 years as a stay-at-home mom for their one and only child, Matt Phillips. Martin was also accused of sexual assault against his ex-wife. He was eventually released and later moved to North Carolina. She had accused Christian of sexually and physically abusing her and her children. Griffiths argued in an opening statement that the prosecutions theory that his client wanted to silence a witness in his court martial made no sense because Phillips alsowas set to testify for the defense in the military trial. The family of Calvin and Pamela Phillips have long contested that Martin didn't have a motive to kill the couple. In 2016, Kit Martin told Nashvilles NBC affiliate WSMV Television that he wasnt concerned about being charged in the murders. He was scheduled to testify before the court-martial for both Martin and the military, according to WSMV. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge. GUILTY - KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53 Select this result to view Matthew Victor Phillips's phone number, address, and more. Calvin Phillips was found shot to death at his home in Pembroke, Kentucky, on or around November 18, 2015, and the bodies of his wife Pamela Phillips and their neighbor Edward Dansereau. Kit has given his life to public service and has sacrificed his self for his fellow man," Spencer told WTVD. When asked by WSMV in April 2016 who would have killed the Phillips and Dansereau, Martin suggested Phillips had dealings in a brothel and had been using drugs. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Martin and Harmon had their marriage voided about three years before the November 2015 murders, after he had learned Harmon was actually married to another man. Its just a relief to know hes [Martin] where he should be and that was pretty nice, said Phillips. He was dismissed from the Army and received 90 days in jail. "They were together all day long, and they didnt really try to hide it or anything like that.". But Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said that after an exhaustive investigation, the evidence points to Martin as the sole killer in the brutal homicides, in which the bodies of Pamela Phillips and Dansereau were found in a car that had been driven into a cornfield and set on fire. Scripps Company. Having been active community members and adored by all, their sudden passings and the circumstances surrounding it was a complete shock. I had moved on.". Calvin Phillips in KY - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages Before he was found guilty in his court-martial, Martin had hired private investigators to help him build a defense. Detectives identified two of the victims as husband and wife, Cal and Pam Phillips, who are remembered by loved ones as kind and fun-loving. After a two week trial, a jury found Christian Richard Martin guilty of all charges against him, including three counts of murder, one count of arson in the first degree, one count of attempted arson, two counts of burglary in the first degree, and three counts of tampering with physical evidence, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced. He was just sitting out there," Martin told WSMV. At Martins penalty phase sentencing on September 2, 2021, the judge ruled for the jurys recommendation, sentencing Martin to life in prison without parole. And so I owed him for that really," he added. I had moved on.". Martin is scheduled to be arraigned on May 22 at the Christian County Justice Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Living in terror for three and a half years, every time you hear a noise you look over your shoulder, Phillips said. In November 2015, while most people in the area were preparing for Thanksgiving, two families, unfortunately, had to plan funerals instead. Martin was booked in Christian County and held without bond. Martin and Harmon had their marriage voided about three years before the November 2015 murders, after he had learned Harmon was actually married to another man. All Rights Reserved. Is there an active shooter in Surprise, Arizona. The indictment comes from events that occurred either on or around November 18, 2015, when Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his Pembroke home. Christian Martin - Kentucky Murder Suspect - Criminal Discourse Podcast And I was like, Im golden.". Police were called out to a field on the edge of Pembroke, Kentucky. "Instead … the jury acted with misplaced blame disguised as justice.". Next is jury selection on. "I just call her the ex-bigamist," Martin said in the 2016 interview. Philips had told private investigators he found the laptop when he helped Harmon move out. That same day, he allegedly shot and killed Pamela Phillips and Dansereau with a .22 caliber firearm, according to the indictment. Phillips told private investigators hired by Martin that he thought the pilot had stolen an Army laptop. His trial is scheduled to begin in Hardin County on June 2 after being moved out of Christian County last August due to pretrial publicity. Martin allegedly broke into the Phillips' home in Pembroke, Kentucky, on Nov. 18, 2015, and fatally shot Calvin Phillips with a .45 caliber pistol, an indictment filed against him alleges. The airline pilot arrested over the weekend and accused of killing three people in Kentucky in 2015 had said in an interview months later that he had no motive for the murders since one of his alleged victims was his "star defense witness" in a sexual assault court-martial he was facing. Christian Martin said in 2016 that one of his alleged victims was supposed to be his "star defense witness" in his court-martial. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. When Martin and Harmon split, she accused him of rape, sodomy, child abuse, child molestation, and stealing a military computer, he said. 306 likes. Pam Phillips and Dancerau were found shot and killed in her burned vehicle down the road. Martin said he considered Phillips an asset in his case. Now that this matter has been closed for good, though, lets find out more about the couple, along with the nitty-gritty details of the case, shall we? DA Whaley asked the judge to dismiss the motion because Lt. Smith did not provide false testimony. "And the concept of home, where you go for Thanksgiving or for Christmasor just to go home, this concept of home has been taken. NBCs Dateline: The Evil That Watches is an episode that explores a triple homicide in Pembroke, Kentucky, that left the small town bewildered to its core. From there, Christian was taken into custody for questioning and released days later by the government. ", "They're just gone," he added. Ex-American Airlines pilot convicted in 2015 Kentucky triple murder Ill fight for her, for my father, and Ed until the end of time because they would have for me.". NCFM has an update in the case of Army Major Kit Martin about the November 2015 unsolved triple homicide in Pembroke, Kentucky. The families and the Pembroke community have endured a profound loss. They tried to get her to a battered womens shelter and as far as citizens go thats the best, somebody needed help and they responded, Phillips said. Pilot Christian Martin pleads not guilty in Kentucky triple murder The court-martial eventually found Martin guilty of one count of mishandling classified information and assault on a child under the age of 16. A car was smoldering and inside were the unidentified remains of two people. This undated photo provided by the Christian County Detention Center shows Christian R. Martin. "We have no idea what prompted this indictment after all these years, but we feel that justice will prevail and Kit Martin will walk away an exonerated man.". Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Martin, an American Airlines pilot, was arrested Saturday at the Louisville International Airport as he was getting ready to board the plane.
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