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THE STEPMOTHER OF Jason Corbett’s children has spoken briefly to Irish media for the first time.
Molly Martens told Newstalk Breakfast that she has not talked to Jack and Sarah since her last visitation before they left for Ireland.
Her voice fraught with emotion, she said that she was under the impression it was just a visitation, not a final goodbye.
As the investigation into the death of her husband Jason Corbett continues in the US, Martens did not comment any further on the situation.
Court’s decision
Her uncle Mike Ernest, however, described those last moments before the children were removed from his niece’s care as the “most heart-wrenching scene I’ve ever had to be part of”.
The visitation happened in the courthouse and, again, he reiterated that there was nothing in the order that said it would be the last time they would see the children.
“Molly took photo albums and showed them to the kids and tried to lift up their spirits,” he recalled, adding that they told each other how much they loved each other.
“That was the last time Molly saw the children.”
Ernest conceded that the court had to make a “complex and difficult decision” but could not understand how the children were not interviewed.
The judge decided he didn’t want to cause them any further trauma by doing so.
But Ernest said that they would have welcomed that over the trauma of being taken from their mother.
Plans in place
He also claimed that Jason Corbett had “made several steps” to ensure he and his children got US citizenship.
“In the week before he died, had a conversation with my wife about seeking US citizenship but still retain Irish citizenship,” he said, noting that his last will was written seven years previous.
In that will, guardianship was given to his sister.
Martens intends to appeal the decision which saw the children returned to Ireland, into the custody of Corbett’s sister Tracey and her husband David Lynch.
“Molly is their mother,” said Ernest.
Motherhood is earned. She is a wonderful mother. She cares unbelievably for these children; the sweetest, brightest, most wonderful kids.
He added that his niece has every faith she will be reunited with her family and will take every legal step to ensure that happens.
Martens and her father Thomas are currently described by US police as “persons of interest” in the investigation into the death of Jason Corbett.
The 39-year-old Irish man sustained fatal head injuries during an alleged assault in his North Carolina home earlier this month. His first wife, and mother to Jack and Sarah, died from an asthma attack when the children were very young.
Facebook posts
Meanwhile, Martens continues to publish emotional Facebook posts to the children.
She recounts memories and adds photos of them in happier times.
“Just a normal evening for Jack and Sarah on a late spring evening,” she wrote today.
Accompanying the message were a number of images from their father’s Facebook page.
“Sarah, do you remember peeling the carrot for the mama and baby rabbits in the back woods? Jack, I’m sure you recall passing the football. And it was at our home, in your father’s words, our “home sweet home”,” she continued.
I miss seeing you, holding you, hearing you, and watching you grow. I am certain you have changed so much already in the two weeks I haven’t heard from you. I am also certain that you have a strong foundation of character and mind. You will remember with truth of your lives and have faith in my love for you.
She also posted an image of Jack’s baseball team with a sign they made for him.
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Whether she had anything to do with the murder of their father, the fact is these children have lost three parents in their already short little lives and that is just tragic.
That’s the real tragedy. I can completely understand the family in Ireland but these kids, especially the girl, have only known this woman as a mother.
You seem to forget that this woman probably killed Jason their father.
The poor man didn’t beat himself to death with a baseball bat.
Even if she didn’t do it, she knows who did and should tell the police…Her father was the only other adult in the house at the time.
Her Facebook account had only one previous post until the custody battle when it suddenly became active with emotional clutter. Excuse my scepticism, but methinks the lady doth protest too much.
Her father is an ex FBI agent. If he wasn’t more details would be released by now.
If she cared so much for these kids would she not be trying to help punish the person who killed their father
Or maybe she has nothing to do with her husband’s death. Extreme vilification of this woman on the journal seemingly just because the man was Irish. We know nothing about what happened and nothing about her relationship with the children. More importantly we know nothing about how the children feel.
All true, what happened and the circumstances are unknown beyond the fact he is dead. And someone is responsible for his death.
It could be this woman or her father, either way until at the very least the investigation is completed and she is found guilty or innocent, the children should not remain with her.
His will was clear, that guardianship should go to his sister, and this woman is not the mother of these children.
The true fact may never be known, and in their absence I would support the family
There was plenty inferences made about Jason Corbett too. He is dead and can’t speak for himself now can he ? .
No one knows what was going on behind closed doors. Maybe it was self defence. Maybe it was murder.
That sort of logic won’t be welcomed on here Gary. He was Irish so therefore must be completely innocent of all wrong doing
Reguardless of her innocent or gult of murder. The children are Irish citizens and do not have American citizenship. She is their step mother through marriage and has never adopted them. The American courts have no jurisdiction. With reguards to who should have custody of there children.
*the children
Not being smart but surely the courts have jurisdiction as that is the jurisdiction they are in.
The American courts have no jurisdiction over the custody of foreign citizens. plus they are actually in Ireland.
The courts would have jurisdiction to prevent the illegal withholding of the children, and order their release to the family in Ireland. I.e. adjudicate on custody.
She has no legal right to these step children, and with the doubt over her involvement in the fathers death, the families actions are 100% understandable.
If this is so. Why were Jason’s relations not able to visit the children after his death, when they travelled from Ireland?
Does not sound right to me.
Apparently the family were saying that she is a gold digger, volatile and now a murderess – we don’t know what kind of message they gave her after his death and what kind of conversation with the children she could expect from them.
They don’t seem to have given her any sort of leeway – why would they not designate a family member to move to the US temporarily to share custody of the children until the case is resolved? Even if the children were to move to Ireland eventually it would help them to overcome the shock if they had a trusted person by their side as opposed to being yanked out the way they were.
From the way US authorities communicate and process it it doesn’t sound like murder or unprovoked assault, but the family does not seem to accept any other version.
Yes a family member can give up their lives here and move to the U.S. Temporarily. That sounds reasonable . NOT! We will have to wait and see what the police do but with so many of the family Federal Agents I’m wary !
If it was really about the children and helping them to cope yes it would be reasonable. Now the family apparently have huge legal fees and subjected the children to another massive shock right after a massive shock… but they “won”.
The family were told about Jason’s death in a brief phone call. They were told by his mother-in-law that he died accidentally – that Molly pushed him, he fell and hit his head. Then they were informed that her father told authorities he hit Jason on the head with a baseball bat during an argument (at 3am).
Then they were refused any contact with the children apart from a 10 second phone call with Jack. They may well have told Jack they were coming to see him and Sarah but that’s hardly unreasonable after their father having just died.
Then all contact with the Martens was cut off and they were informed Molly had started custody proceedings and that a quick cremation had been arranged without any discussion regarding possible funeral arrangements. They had to get legal help to get to see Jason’s body at all.
It’s hardly surprising they have concerns about the circumstances of Jason’s death and serious concerns for the well-being of the children.
Where children are involved their safety must be placed before any other concern. The Corbett’s couldn’t being expected to simply give Molly the benefit of the doubt especially after being given conflicting stories and refused any contact with the children. If there was even the slightest chance that the children were in the care of people responsible for their father’s murder or manslaughter then the Corbett’s had every justification to fight for custody.
The Martens’ are seeking to blame Jason for his own violent death without him having the opportunity to defend himself or challenge their version of events. We don’t know what kind of explanation they gave the children after his death and how they may have accused him.
The Martens persist in portraying Molly as the children’s only parent, themselves as the children’s only family and the USA as the children’s only country. They persist in portraying the children’s Irish relatives as strangers. Jack and Sarah had a loving father who raised them and a loving mother who deserves to have her memory respected. Perhaps it was Molly’s resentment of the birth mother’s mere existence that made Jason reluctant to allow an adoption? Jack and Sarah have maintained a close and loving relationship with their extended family in Ireland and there were frequent visits back and forth. They DO have trusted and loving family members with them during this difficult time. Jack and Sarah spent more than half their lives in Ireland and visited it regularly after the move to the USA.
The full circumstances of Jason’s death are not yet known. The US legal system can move painfully slowly in such matters. But IF Molly Martens is cleared of all responsibility then she still needs to prove that she can put the needs of the children first. Dragging the children through a protracted custody battle when she has no legal rights will cause pain to all involved. If she is to have future contact with the children she needs to show that it will have a positive impact on the children’s lives. Trying to get them to choose sides and seeking to undermine their relationship with their legal guardians can only destabilise the children and cause them further distress.
Since you seem to know so much directly, is she allowed to have contact with the children now?
“A quick cremation had been arranged without any discussion regarding possible funeral arrangements. They had to get legal help to get to see Jason’s body at all.”
Wow that’s pretty damning. If it’s true, it doesn’t show the Martens in a favourable light. Who on earth wouldn’t let the family see the body and pay their last respects. Given that the family wasn’t told until 10 hours later, and the cops had been phoned at 3am, you’d imagine they could easily have got the story straight if there was a concerted cover-up.
I think I would be keeping a very close eye on those 2 children if I was Jason’s sister.
comments should be closed
Why ? No legal action in Ireland ?
@ivor. Comments closed on article about the person charged in relation to the Bangkok bomb. Comments can also be closed for reasons of sensitivity.
i don’t think there’s any such issue in this case. I don’t see why you advocate that comments should be closed.
regardless of what went on the fatal day , I think it obvious that she loves those kids . the kids should have their own say and they should be heard . it’s very important to listen to what the kids want too .
doesn’t really matter what the kids think if this lady has any involvement(as indicated by local police investigating the case). until she is proven to have no involvement in their fathers murder she should keep stop pulling on heart strings. when the murder case is closed then maybe she could focus on the custody case.
Agreed, Her level of arrogance doesnt sit easy with me to be honest.
John, you appear to be supporting the notion of guilty until proven innocent.
when it comes to caring for kids that’s the notion required. you wouldn’t be allowed look after children for a living with a Garda vetting so why should this lady currently part of the investigation into her husband’s death be allowed without first proving no involvement. It’s strange how all this love she’s showing for these 2 kids with her Facebook posts yet I haven’t heard anything of her mourning her dead husband
## sry without a garda vetting
Step parents don’t need Garda vetting.
As for her mourning her husband, you’re only hearing what the media report. It’s simply not enough to make an informed decision on.
John’s comments would come straight from the daily mail, and the approvals show the lack of overall empathy of the readers – the only truth is no-one here knows anything about the situation apart from a man was killed, his kids have been left with only a stepmother, and the police are investigating – Why would garda vetting be involved for the children’s step-mother and not the family in Ireland? This is just hopping on the band wagon because of a one sided media view due to the fact that the father was Irish.
Look at her FB page then, nothing about dead husband
She is a person of interest in the murder and her father used the phrase “I did it” in the 911 call, whatever he meant by that.
She is not a blood relation and the legal named Guardian was his sister in Ireland.
The U’S’ Judge thought she hadn’t a leg to stand on either.
Maybe the judge has information which you don’t Suzie ?
that’s very true Ivor , I never claimed otherwise .
Suzie by saying in your OP that the kids should have their voice, you ignore the point that the judge had more facts available than us, when making the considered decision NOT to consult them, but to award custody to the Corbetts, & let them return to Ireland.
The judge would obviously decide in the best interests of the children.
@Alien8 it’s seems you have the very basics in the story there’s a lot more information available to those who are interested in the case, so much so as to have an informed opinion. And I was using garda vetting requirements to be able to work with kids as an example of the notion guilty until proven innocent being necessary. In order to legally adapt a child I reckon you’d need more than just a Garda vetting. this lady wants full custody of the 2 children even though their father didn’t want her to legally adapt them. their father who was killed in her house in suspicious circumstances. where do you suggest would be a better place for the 2 children to live other than the chosen place of their recently deceased father?
Ivor , I fully support the judge’s decision , it was the right thing to do .all I’m saying is that the children’s voice should be heard too .
@ Suzie – I still don’t get your point, & I don’t think you get mine.
Who should the children’s voice be heard by ? The judge, in making his custody decision ?
The children will likely say they want to be with their mother of the last 8 years. The judge presumably knew that.
As I said above, he obviously has information which we don’t have, & decided that it was in the children’s best interests to be returned to Ireland with their father’s relations.
I agree with you Ivor , I just think that in time the kids should have some contact with her , only if that’s what the kids want . I thinks its important to ask the kids what they want and how they feel but sole custody should still remain with their aunt and uncle .
@Joe
Since when need people to prove their innocence?
It’s the other way around “innocent until proven guilty”!
There is an ongoing murder investigation of which Molly Martens, the stepmother, is a possible suspect of her dead husband’s murder, or at the minimum, an accomplice.
If Jason Corbett and his children were born American citizens, Child Service Protection would remove the children from the stepmother’s custody, and either place the children in Foster Care or possibly with any paternal family members considering that again, to put children in the care of any family member of the suspects, is to endanger the children & their safety under the circumstances.
There have been plenty of cases here in the U.S. with spouses murdering their husband or wife and the children given over to the murdered parent victim’s parents or sibling.
And why does she want the children so bad? The children where in the home during that night and when the battering took place at 3:00am in the morning. So what did the children “hear” both before the 3am time point, and after that point?
With CPS removing the children (if they were regular U.S. citizens), she still wouldn’t get any visitation whatsoever without having to appear in Juvenile Court to review whether or not it would be in the children’s best interest to prevent further contact between the stepmother who is under suspicion as a suspect, and the children.
Being that the kids are Irish Citizens & were here on their father’s work visa, the U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over Irish National Citizens. Case Closed as Molly Martens has no legal rights whatsoever to those children.
Does she really think an 8 & 10 year old are on FB reading these posts ?
Think about it. These young kids will have no-one to tell them all the stories that most kids get to hear about their growing up. Their parents are dead, and the stepmother that they grew up with until now will no longer be part of their lives. Hopefully the family they’re with now will gather and recount these stories to them, because otherwise there’ll be a big blank in their knowledge about their childhood.
They might not read them today but they will be archived on FB so in five years’ time, they’ll still be there should the children seek her out.
I can’t understand how people need to live their lives on FB ? Just send letter to the kids ?
I’m sure the guardians would not be averse to letting letters through, after they had spent so much time with her.
Ivor , you can never be guaranteed that they would get to see those letters , on Facebook they will see them eventually . she has also not posted anything about her husband , even on the day he was buried .
Suzie – isn’t that odd ?
she could’ve been advised not to comment on Facebook about him
For what reason ? She was his wife.
Because she was a ‘person of interest’, perhaps ?
Ivor , maybe for that reason , yes .
It’s important that the children are listened to but obviously the adults have to decide what’s best for them. I read yesterday that the Corbett family have described Molly Martens as volatile. Is this something they witnessed or something relayed by their brother? It may well be that the children are as happy as the circumstances allow, and regard Limerick as home. But what if that’s not the case and they are pining for their step mother and familiar life in the US? If so, there’s no point in putting it down to grief for their father and sending them for endless rounds of counselling. Objective professionals should ascertain right now what’s going on with them, before lasting damage is done. If on close questioning of the children by an objective professional, Molly Martens is deemed to be a loving parent – i.e, not abusive as volatile suggests – and they want to be with her, the question then becomes: does Tracey Lynch love them enough to let them go.
No that’s not the question at all. There is as much evidence that Molly was volition as there is that Jason was at the moment. Children are removed from homes and parents for many reasons . They get over it and move on. There’s a much bigger picture here and far more issues than if the children are pining. The issue of their fathers death. The cutting off of all contact with the Irish family . How on earth could they be trusted to ensure contact in the future with the Irish family is she had custody ? How is she going to protean their father now? He loved and raised them . How do we know that Molly Marten has lodged a long custody battle so she can hang on to the child’s assets ? If the children’s estate was to be liquidated for them and put into trust would she have to sell her home ? Would her lifestyle change ? All relevant questions. We need to see the outcome of the investigations of Jason’s death. I know you keep quoting a professional talking to the children. You went on about this before as Molly Martens wanted them to see a osycholigist who is an expert in dissociative disorders was it ? There is far more to consider that just what the children want. These children are Irish citizens . The family here in Ireland will never walk away from those children. They will never leave them in the custody if the people who caused their fathers death. I certainly wouldn’t . You can stop doing Molly Martens PR here in Ireland . She and her family and her lawyers are doing it for her now.
very well said , Catherine !
You commented earlier that the children are settlilng in well which suggests you are connected with the family. Your naked aggression and insistence that it’s all about money just adds to my concerns about the welfare of these children. None of us has any way of knowing that’s what is motivating Molly Martens but you leave us in no doubt where you are coming from. As if that’s all the world needs, two more gombeens brought up to fumble in a greasy till and add the ha’pence to the pence.
I don’t even know the family . I just know if it was my son killed I would not want his children with the family that killed them. You are on here talking nonsense because you have read some U.S. Reports and thinking you know better. You don’t know what’s best for those children . There were notes and phone numbers hidden in the kids toys and they were warned not to tell the Lynches. The minute they saw their they aunt told her. They haven’t even asked for her . They are completely unaware of all the media reports and the family intend to protect them from it. Jason Corbett made sure the visa was linked to his job despite pressure from the Martens to do it through them. He had his reasons. The family in Ireland haven’t gone after any assets or money for the kids so your greed no sense is just that nonsense. Bottom line this family killed their father. This family can say what they like about Jason Corbett as the man is dead and cannot speak for himself. This woman was a cleaner and took the kids to and from crèche and not their mother at all until 2011. In 2011 when they moved to the U.S. To the present day there had been 18 visits to Ireland . Why thus woman is trying to traumatise the family even further is beyond me. She and her family gave already robbed them of a father brother son and so much more.
By the way I know the kids are settling in because I read the corbetts side and not just the Martens like you seem to be doing !
How do you know they haven’t asked for her? The Irish family never put that out anywhere only that they have settled in well. There was also no mention of messages hidden in toys only one sister saying they left America with just the clothes on their backs. Mud slinging and messages put up on public Facebook settings so ‘the other side’ can read them. Otherwise they would have made their posts ‘friends only’. ‘The kids were so happy with me’….then Irish family posts a few hours later ‘they are so happy here settling in great with real family’. It’s now about throwing digs at each other across social media with two innocents lost in the middle. Don’t believe for a second after two weeks they have forgotten a woman who was in their lives 8 years! I hope in the long term when the truth comes out and IF the step mother is 100% cleared of any direct involvement in the mans death, then the children are asked if they want some form of relationship with her. if they request that it’s facilitated in some way by all these adults who all agree on one thing; they all love the children and want what’s best for them. Then listen to them.
I’d say all of that information came from here: http://www.limerickpost.ie/2015/08/31/corbetts-reject-deluded-propaganda-of-martens-family
So now she’s been demoted from au pair to cleaner. Jason Corbett married his cleaning lady. Do you really believe an American university graduate would come all the way to Limerick to clean toilets?! As for “they haven’t even asked for her”… they are probably too frightened to mention her name knowing what kind of reaction it will provoke. God help those poor kids.
Betty , why are you so negative towards the family , why do your believe her ? why do you defend her so much ?
I defend her Suzie because I think it must be devastating for her, utterly ruinous. And I feel negative towards the family because they have demonstrated zero compassion towards her.
Betty , maybe that’s because they know more about her than you do ? you’ve read both sides , what kind of a person tries to arrange a quick cremation without the family being there ? what kind of person is she that she doesn’t even inform her husband’s family that he’s died ? there’s a lot of questions surrounding her reasons for doing that .
Yes, there are questions galore. I agree if the quick cremation thing is true, it’s dreadful. But just because it’s been said here doesn’t make it gospel. Did you hear Molly Martens on Newstalk? Either she’s an actress worthy of an Oscar or she’s a woman whose heart has been broken by the loss of those kids.
One thing I did find a little odd though, and it came from her lawyer, is that the neighbours in the US thought she was the mother of the children. Maybe she wanted the children to feel she was their mother in every way that counted, but I can’t imagine in four years not telling someone that they were Jason’s children from his first marriage.
no neither can I , but I will say she seemed to be their mother in every sense of the word and the aunt did say ” your daughter ” to Molly martens in a comment she made to her before . I think that Molly martens might have been too possessive of the kids and might have been trying to push the father away . but sure that’s just an opinion .
Molly Marten’s lawyer is paid to represent her, and will say anything in her defense.
Even make up something to get the sympathy vote if it serves the lawyer’s purpose to make his client look good.
And plenty of people presume plenty of things about people they don’t really know. So unless those within the home & school communities didn’t inquire about the biological nature between Jason, his children and his wife, then why yes, of course the neighbors would presume her to be their mother.
Yet since it’s been noted how familiar some of the neighbors were with them, I’m sure they knew the truth that Molly was their stepmother.
I think the Irish media should leave this story alone now, and let the Corbett children live in peace with their family in Ireland.
I absolutely agree. That family have had enough heartache . The kids are settling well apparently . Now they need to be left get on with their lives.
How long have the these Martens been “persons of interest” in the bludgeoning to death of a young father now? I hope the Martens federal connections have no bearing on this long, long delay…..?
Another heart wrenching scene is the burial of the childrens’ Dad after his life was taken away from him.
Gold digger.
Idiot.
American obviously.
Amadán.
I agree Emer, I’ve seen them closed for less.
Exzactly beano.hes irish therefore innocent. There’s alot more to this case. She wouldn’t be out on bail otherwise
She’s not even out on bail. She hasn’t been charged with anything. The police haven’t even decided if a crime was committed.
Yet, in the court of public opinion, she’s already guilty of murder.
The reason she’s not being charged is because they undertake a legal medical investigation which can take months. Apparently her father phoned 911 and stated that he had hit Jason with a baseball bat. If that admission was taken as the sole reason and the only perpetrator was the father, he would be charged with murder. In the U.S. they don’t have manslaughter it’s 1st degree or 2nd or 3rd.
My guess is the cops went in found the man dead and everyone present is a suspect. Then an investigation has to take place and see does toxicology turn up anything. Then Ms Martens alibi of her father committing the crime has to be gone through. It can take some time. If you put a person to trial in the U.S., isn’t it the case that you have to get it right or they can’t be tried again?
Also we haven’t heard a lot about what she intends to do for the kids. Will she ensure they receive their share of their fathers estate? If she doesn’t have custody, what does that mean under U.S. Law? Does that mean the children retain their rights rather than Molly martens retaining the rights? Is it possible that Jason wanted his children to retain those rights rather than his second wife? Is it possible that he was worried, they would be neglected in the future if something happened to him? It will come out eventually but right now the children at least are safe for sure, as the family have shown that’s what they primarily care about.
The U.S. does have a Manslaughter category among the various Murder Charges.
But yes, investigations do take time, and once a prosecutor decides they have enough of information to warrant charges, they then bring the information & evidence, etc. to a Grand Jury.
It goes thru that process and if the Grand Jury agrees that the evidence supports charges, the Grand Jury will then issue a “True Bill of Indictment” which the prosecutor then takes to a judge (or magistrate depending upon the state) who will then issue and Arrest Warrant.
After an arrest has been made, the suspect will go before a judge to 1- have counsel appointed, and 2- to seek bail. If bail is granted & the suspect can make the bail bond, only then will the suspect be out on jail while awaiting trial. Can’t make the bail bond, then one sits in jail until the trial starts.
As for Molly Martens having any rights to the children under U.S. law, she doesn’t have legal rights whatsoever to legal Irish citizens period. That’s why she hounded Jason to either let her adopt them, and/or convincing him to become a U.S. citizen along with his kids. Because in either of those scenarios, that would give her some legal standing of having some legal rights to the kids (with the exception of Jason’s will & appointment of his sister to be a guardian to his children. Which that would/could make for a protracted legal battle between the parties if that were the case.)
Regarding the home in North Carolina, we don’t even know if Jason leased it via his job as many working in International type of job positions tend to do with high-level employees. Or if he purchased it and whether or not there is a mortgage on the home, or if he was the sole owner on the Deed to the property. But those are issues for Jason’s family to be privy to and contend with.
I think you should all mind you own business, its hard enough for the Family in Ireland to mourn their sin brother etc.
have your say