Details of a murder trial in which many believe an innocent man was convicted of a triple homicide.
I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind The Kit Martin Murder Trial
by Emilio Corsetti III
Publication Date: March 26, 2024
Pages: 196
Genre: True Crime/Nonfiction
Moments before boarding a passenger flight on 11 May 2019 as the first officer, pilot Christian “Kit” Martin, a former army ranger, was arrested by a swarm of heavily armed officers for the murders of three of his neighbors. The arrest captured global attention as Martin’s mugshot, clad in a pilot’s uniform, spread across the internet, sparking a media firestorm with headlines such as “Monster in the Cockpit.”
A combat helicopter pilot, Kit Martin had seen his life unravel after seeking a divorce. His wife’s threatening words, “If you leave me, I will ruin your life …,” overheard by his daughter, seemed to have become a grim reality, escalating to a court-martial and culminating in a high-stakes murder trial at which he was convicted.
I WILL RUIN YOU: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial delves into the complex circumstances behind Martin’s story. It looks beyond the sensational headlines and legal turmoil into the heart of this controversial case.
You can purchase I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial at Amazon.
Enjoy this peek inside:
Not long after Kit’s call to the Christian County Sheriff’s Office and Joan’s 911 call, two police cars showed up at 458 South Main Street in Pembroke, Kentucky. Sergeant Andrew Trafford was first to arrive, followed shortly after by Deputy Eddie Frye and Officer John Bruce. Alma, whose bedroom faced the street, watched the scene unfold from her bedroom window.
Deputy Frye was barely out of his car when Joan approached and said, “He beat the shit out of me again.” Deputy Frye asked Joan where she had been hit. Joan pointed to her temples and the back of her head. Deputy Frye used his flashlight to examine Joan. When Deputy Frye indicated that he didn’t see any marks, Joan replied that her son was upstairs and that he should talk to him.
Deputy Frye then headed to the back porch, where Sergeant Trafford spoke with Kit. Frye told Sergeant Trafford that he would go inside and question the kids. When the deputy entered the residence, the first thing that caught his attention was how dark it was inside. He had to use his flashlight to see.
McKenzie was the first of the kids to talk to Deputy Frye. She indicated there had been a verbal argument, but she hadn’t seen anything. When Deputy Frye asked where the “boy” was, McKenzie said he was upstairs.
Still using his flashlight to guide him, Deputy Frye climbed the steep stairs to the second floor. Both Alma and Elijah met him at the top of the stairs. Frye indicated that he wanted to talk to Elijah. After introducing himself, he asked Elijah to tell him exactly what he had heard and seen. He added that he needed to know one hundred percent what had happened, no matter who was at fault. Elijah said that his dad was upstairs on the couch and that his mom came upstairs and yelled at him. Elijah then emphasized that “he never touched her.”
Deputy Frye asked again, “You never saw him hit her?”
“No,” Elijah answered. “He did not hit her.”
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MY REVIEW
I’m a true crime junkie. I watch tons of shows on the telly and movies based on real events. I also read a lot of true crime books. So, when I come across one that keeps me glued to the story. Makes me keep reading til the wee hours. Has me rushing home from work to read some more before returning. And has me talking about it to anyone who will listen. That’s a sure fire 5 Star read for me.
There were a lot of players important to this case about a triple homicide. There’s the lawyers, both civil and military, and a plethora of witnesses. But, the key people are former army ranger and helicopter pilot, Kit Martin, and his wife, Joan. I thought Kit was a likable man. Honest, hard working and a good father. Joan. I thought she was bonkers, a pathological liar and dangerous. When she felt she was about to lose her meal ticket, she’d quickly run off with the next unsuspecting one she had in the wings.
The writing and research were so compelling. I felt like I was that proverbial ‘fly on the wall’. I was so tempted to go online and see what info was out there. I had heard of the case but wasn’t aware of the trial’s outcome. Now that I’ve shared my thoughts, I’m going to check it out. If you like true crime, this is an excellent choice for your next read.
5 STARS
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Emilio Corsetti III is a retired airline pilot and the author of the bestselling nonfiction books 35 Miles From Shore and Scapegoat. Emilio is a graduate of St. Louis University Parks College of Aviation. He and his wife, Lynn, reside in Dallas, Texas.
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