Corbett, a widower raising two young children, had hired Molly Martens as an au pair in Ireland following his first wife’s sudden death. Their relationship evolved into marriage in 2011, after which the family relocated to the United States. However, tensions within the household eventually culminated in tragedy.
On August 2, 2015, emergency services were called after Martens’ father, Thomas Martens, a former FBI agent, reported striking Jason Corbett with a baseball bat. Authorities found Corbett dead at the scene, having suffered multiple blows from a bat and a concrete paving brick. Both Molly Martens-Corbett and Thomas Martens claimed self-defence, alleging Jason had been attacking Molly.
Investigators questioned their account, citing inconsistencies such as the lack of injuries on Molly and Thomas, and Corbett’s notably low body temperature, suggesting a possible delay in the 911 call. Jason’s children, Jack and Sarah, later said they had been coached by Molly to falsely accuse their father of abuse.
After a custody battle, Jack and Sarah returned to Ireland to live with Jason’s sister, Tracey Lynch. In 2017, Molly and Thomas were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20–25 years in prison. However, their convictions were overturned on appeal, leading to a retrial where they pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2021. They were released from prison on June 6, 2024.
Corbett’s family, particularly Lynch, continues to advocate for justice, maintaining that Jason was a victim of both violence and a flawed legal process. Deadly American Marriage explores the case’s conflicting narratives and the lasting impact on Jason’s children.