Goosehead Insurance - Matthew Phillips, Pikeville, Kentucky. When police went to talk to that neighbor, they found the backdoor was wide open, the television blaring and an empty holster in a chair like hed rushed out suddenly. "The families and the Pembroke community have endured a profound loss. PEMBROKE, Ky. After finding Christian "Kit" Martin guilty of all charges, a jury recommended a sentence of life without the benefit of probation or parole. Cellphone tower evidence also reportedly places Martin in the area where the remains of Pamela Phillips and Dansereau were found. This was an attack not only on my family but on the entire justice system.". Calvin Phillips was found fatally shot at his home in Pembroke, Kentucky, Attorney General Andy Beshear said Saturday. LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Matt Phillips hopes to finally see justice in his parents heinous murder as a pilot and former Army Major was taken off a flight in handcuffs at the Louisvilles Muhammad Ali International Airport. After he heard the recommended prison sentence Thursday afternoon, Martin was led out of the Hardin County courtroom before deputies allowed him back in to give hugs and kisses to his family. 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. The killings happened just two weeks before the scheduled court martial. 753 likes. Martin said in an April 2016 interview with NBC affiliate WSMV that he suspected Harmon had been involved in a long-term affair with Calvin Phillips. Background: Ex-airline pilot finally goes on trial in gruesome Kentucky triple murder. ", "They're just gone," he added. The sentencing phase of the trial beganThursday morning, featuring severalmembers ofthe Phillips and Dansereau families reading victim impact statements. According to their obituary, "Calvin Lee Phillips (59) & Pamela J Phillips (57), passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, in. "He's an honest man," Laura Spencer said in an interview with ABC station WTVD-TV in Durham, North Carolina. The family was frustrated with the lack of resources to investigate the case when they went to Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear. But Martin maintained that he had no motive to kill Calvin Phillips because he believed he was going to be his "star witness" in the upcoming court-martial. "My parents died for this court-martial," son Matt Phillips said in 2019. according to NBC. Prosecutors said that the murders happened two weeks before Calvin Phillips was scheduled to testify in a military court-martial trial, in which Martin, who served in the Army from 1986 to 2016, faced multiple charges. American Airlines, which owns PSA Airlines, said Martin, who was arrested at a TSA checkpoint as he prepared to fly as first officer from Louisville to Charlotte, was placed on "administrative suspension" pending the outcome of the case. In 2016, Kit Martin told Nashvilles NBC affiliate WSMV Television that he wasnt concerned about being charged in the murders. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge. 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. All Rights Reserved. Martin's ex-wife, Joan Harmon, and her son invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying in the case. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Martin and Harmon had split and their marriage was voided three years before the murders after he allegedly found out she already had a husband. Calvin and Pamela Phillips were murdered in 2015. Griffiths cited Rogers vs. Commonwealth that allowed for a defendants right to present a defense to trump whether scientific evidence should be introduced at trial. Also at issue are the results of polygraph tests given to both Diana & Matt Phillips about finding the shell casing. (Source - Christian County Sheriff's Office) Jurors convicted Martin this week after seven hours of deliberation following a two-week trial. 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. From the outside, it seemed like they were a picture-perfect family. Philips had told private investigators he found the laptop when he helped Harmon move out. It may not display this or other websites correctly. All rights reserved. Police were called out to a field on the edge of Pembroke, Kentucky. The forensic analysis reportedly shows the casing was fired from a .45 caliber Glock belonging to Martin. He says his family didnt know Martin had become a pilot with American Airlines. "There are many steps from here, but we hope this is one example of when you never stop seeking justice, when you never give up, that we can truly get important results for these families.". In a 2016 interview with NBC affiliate station WSMV-TV in Louisville, Martin claimed Calvin Phillips was having an affair with his then-wife but denied any involvement in the murders. Christian Kit Martin, 51, was taken into custody Saturday and charged in a 2015 triple homicide in Christian County, near the Tennessee border. Martin, an American Airlines pilot, was arrested Saturday at the Louisville International Airport as he was getting ready to board the plane. Works at Gipe Auto Color, Inc. October 31, 2018 - Present. Who was the man in the cellar and who were the two people in the car? During Friday's evidentiary hearing in Christian County Circuit Court, she testified that she and her nephew Matt were at the South Main Street home in April 2016 doing general cleaning and maintenance. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Christian Martin was indicted in the slayings of his neighbors in Kentucky. And so I owed him for that really," Martin said in the interview. Calvin's wife, Pamela Phillips, 58, and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau, 63, were also found in a nearby cornfield inside her burned-out car the next day. Son of slain parents on American Airlines pilot charged in 2015 triple homicide: Its just a relief. The authorities theorized that Christian murdered Calvin to stop him from testifying in his court-martial, effectively ending his 30-year Army career. At Martins penalty phase sentencing on September 2, 2021, the judge ruled for the jurys recommendation, sentencing Martin to life in prison without parole. "He was my star defense witness," Martin said. But Phillips also told investigators that Harmon had never said she or her children were abused by Martin. 1 of 2. Tom Griffiths, one of Martin's attorneys, told The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, that they "are definitely appealing" the conviction. He was scheduled to testify before the court-martial on behalf of both Martin and the military, according to WSMV. Pam had lived a couple of miles away on S. Main Street. And so I owed him for that really," he added. The triple-slayings occurred just weeks before Calvin Phillips was scheduled to testify in Martins military court-martial. 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. Yet he was finally indicted in May 2019 whiel he was working as a pilot at PSA Airlines - a subsidiary of American Airlines. Martin was still wearing his uniform when his mugshot was taken. PREVIOUS STORY >> American Airlines pilot arrested at Louisville airport, charged in 2015 triple homicide. Christian Martin said in 2016 that one of his alleged victims was supposed to be his "star defense witness" in his court-martial. Hilton said she and her husband have a 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter who referred to their grandfather as "Poppy," and she said the family has continued to meet with therapists to process the grief over Dansereau's death. In an interview with CNN, Matt Phillips said his father was killed before he could testify in a court-martial trial against Martin, CBS News reported. Memorial services honoring their lives will be held at Pembroke Baptist Church in KY. Calvin Lee Phillips (59) & Pamela J Phillips (57), passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, in Pembroke. While this verdict in no way eases that pain, I hope that they find some peace and comfort today.". He was eventually released and later moved to North Carolina. The vast extent of inquiries was because Calvin was registered as a testifying witness in Christians court-martial, which was scheduled to begin almost two weeks after the slaying. She had accused Christian of sexually and physically abusing her and her children. ID - Doomsday Cult Victims - Joshua Vallow, Tylee Ryan, Tammy Daybell, Charles Vallow *Arrests* #72, TX - Former NFL Antonio & Dawn Armstrong, both 42, fatally shot, Houston, 29 Jul 2016 *Mistrials, 3rd trial in 2023*, CA - Malibu Creek State Park Shooting, Tristan Beaudette, 35, died, 22 June 2018 *Arrest* #3, CT - Kathleen Flynn, 11, murdered, Ponus Ridge, 23 Sep 1986 *arrest in 2019*, KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*, Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Indictment in Christian Martin Triple-Murder Case, https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Circuit-Court/Pages/default.aspx, Martin Defense Attorneys Still Waiting for Evidence Reports, Box of new evidence found in high profile triple murder case | News | wsmv.com, Polygraph Admissibility at Issue in Martin Evidence Hearing. His body was found in the cellar, the cellar doors shut and hidden by a doggie bed. Several attempts to reach Harmon for comment were unsuccessful. In the penalty phase of KY v. Christian Martin, the jury recommended a sentence of life without the benefit of probation of parole. 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. Police obtained a search warrant and found a man lying on the floor dead with gunshot wounds to his chest. View Calvin Phillips results in Kentucky (KY) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In turn, Martin accused her of having an affair with Calvin Phillips and fabricating the abuse the claims. Christian Martin. This woman had basically been milking me for eight years, and I didnt know it. That is how neighbors Edward Dansereau and married couple Calvin and Pamela Phillips lost their lives. "The world was robbed of a beautiful human being in my mother. Martin said he considered Phillips an asset in his case. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Martin had worked for PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, for slightly more than a year when he was arrested on May 11, 2019, as he prepared to fly as first officer on a flight from Louisville to Charlotte, North Carolina. The charred remains of Pamela Phillips and Dansereau were found in a burnt car in a field in Pembroke. Whaley, an assistant attorney general, also told the jurythat the victim's family later foundMartins dog tags on a shelf in their historic home. 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. Martin, an American Airlines pilot, was arrested Saturday at the Louisville International Airport as he was getting ready to board the plane. His defense team argues the grand jury indicted him based on misleading testimony from an investigator about the cellphone tower evidence. "His spirit wasinfectious, and his spirit made everyone feel like they were loved," Hilton said of Dansereau. And he said he would present forensic proof that the bullets that killed the victims did not come from his clients gun. According to the attorney general, Christian Martin has been indicted on three counts of murder, one count of arson, one count of attempted arson, burglary in the first degree and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. "Weve been on a national display since earlyJune, and I believe you all have lived up to your oath as jurors," Atkins said. ", In a statement to ABC News, American Airlines officials said Martin, who began working as a PSA pilot in January 2018, passed a routine criminal background check that found "no criminal history that would disqualify him from being a commercial pilot. Having been active community members and adored by all, their sudden passings and the circumstances surrounding it was a complete shock. Phillips said he found the computer when he was helping Harmon clear her stuff out of Martin's house. 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. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? A jury found Christian Richard Martin guilty of all charges against him stemming from the 2015 killings, including three counts of murder. PEMBROKE, Ky. (WTVF) Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear announced today that a Christian County grand jury has indicted a man in connection with a 2015 triple murder. "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.". But Martin said he wasn't jealous. 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.". 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. DA Whaley asked the judge to dismiss the motion because Lt. Smith did not provide false testimony. Asked in the interview if he believed he would be charged in the killings, Martin told WSMV, "No, I have no worries about that. They interviewed Phillips, who said he thought Martin had stolen an Army laptop, according to Martin and tapes of the interviews obtained by WSMV. 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. It would take more than three years to make an arrest, three years to untangle a tale of a neighborhood torn apart. Martin's public advocatesGriffiths, Doug Martin and Olivia Adamsexpressed displeasure with the jury's verdict during Thursday's hearing, calling Martin a "military hero" who was unfairly depicted as a "monster.". Phillips family claimed his comments about the victim being his star witness were absurd.. In May 2016, after the homicides, Martin was found not. No, Martin told a reporter, I have no worries about that.. Hes charged with three counts of murder, as well as arson, burglary and tampering with evidence. Now I'm thinking jury selection starts on 6/1 changing my notes! And so I owed him for that really," Martin said. Martin, who served in the Army between 1986 and 2016, had been accused by his ex-wife Joan Harmon of physical and sexual abuse and mishandling classified military materials, Daily Mail reports. This undated photo provided by the Christian County Detention Center shows Christian R. Martin. 443 South Main Street, which belongs to Calvin & Pam Phillips. "Instead … the jury acted with misplaced blame disguised as justice.". The former pilot was found guilty on three counts of murder, two counts of 1st-degree burglary, arson, criminal attempt to commit arson, and three counts of tampering with evidence. On Monday, Martin's daughter, McKenzie, also expressed support for her father, telling ABC News in a statement, "My dad is an American hero. 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. She then accused him of rape, sodomy, child abuse, child molestation, and stealing a military computer, Martin said. Our hearts and prayers are with the family and friends of these victims, Cameron said. 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. "Im devastated," Matt Phillips said in a statement to ABC News. Worked at 502 Motorworks. The second best result is Matthew Victor Phillips age 30s in Elsmere, KY. Matthew is related to Brittany Marie Wells and Vickie Lynn Phillips as well as 3 additional people. Pam Phillips and Dancerau were found shot and killed in her burned vehicle down the road. JavaScript is disabled. The families and the Pembroke community have endured a profound loss. 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. Diana Phillips testified she found what she thought was a shell casing on the back porch. In the end, the jury did not believe the defense nor Martin's denial of killing the three neighbors. On November 18, 2015, they were both brutally murdered. Matt Phillips is on Facebook. The bodies of Pamela Phillips and Dansereau were found in Calvin. 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. Christian Richard Martin, 53, faces between 20 years and life behind bars for fatally shooting Edward Dansereau and married couple Calvin and Pamela Phillips nearly six years ago. Is there an active shooter in Surprise, Arizona. Eventually, once everything asserted above got combined with the physical evidence found in the Phillips home, which further linked Christian to the matter, he was arrested on May 11, 2019. The families and the Pembroke community have endured a profound loss, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in a statement Wednesday night. He was just sitting out there," Martin told WSMV. Next is jury selection on. A Christian County circuit court judge has ordered that he be held without bond. He will be returned to Christian County while he waits for trial. Martin said he considered Phillips an asset in his case. He said in an interview with WSMV in April 2016 that Calvin Phillips had a long-term affair with his ex-wife that was known to everyone in town.. 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. 3. Court info from 5/22/19 thru 5/21/21 reference post #99 here: You must log in or register to reply here. Atkins, the judge, thanked thejurors for "doing your duty without complaint.". Ill fight for her, for my father, and Ed until the end of time because they would have for me.". In remembering Cal & Pam Phillips this is a place where people can share memories, post news, and pus A cell phone expert testifies claims that Martins phone and PPs phone were traveling in the same direction are wrong. "My parents died for this court-martial," Matt Phillips said in 2019. A former American Airlines pilot was found guilty Wednesday of murdering three people in Kentucky in 2015. State firearms experts cant match the bullet fragments recovered from the victims to the defendants guns. Calvin and Pamela Phillips were murdered in 2015. Martin said in the April 2016 interview with WSMV that he suspected Harmon had been involved in a long-term affair with Calvin Phillips. "Everyone in town knew what was going on while I was at work every day," Martin said. 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. A restaurant manager where Joan Harmon worked testified she was happy excited about the murders. The court-martial found Martin guilty of two counts of mishandling classified information and assault on a child under the age of 16, an Army statement said. Phillips told private investigators hired by Martin that he thought the pilot had stolen an Army laptop. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled Sept. 2 in Hopkinsville, with Martin to remain in the custody until then. It's gone. "My private investigator went through all the allegations with him and just went down the whole line and just refuted everything. In November 2015, while most people in the area were preparing for Thanksgiving, two families, unfortunately, had to plan funerals instead. "We believe if the jury knew that Joan Harmon and her son were subpoenaed, but refused to testify, they would have reached a different verdict," Griffiths said. He was punitively dismissed from the Army, forfeited all pay and allowances and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. Griffiths also said a laptop computer that was used by an investigator to obtain cell phone evidence was corrupted. Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in the basement of his home. 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. She had a warmth about her that I think, biased as I may be, was incredibly rare," Matt Phillips said. In fact, he was grateful to Phillips. The following day, while detectives found Calvins remains in their shared home on South Main Street, Pamelas body was recovered from her burnt-out vehicle a few miles away, near a cornfield. Court info from 5/22/19 thru 2/25/21 reference post #93 here: 5/21/21 Update: During Fridays evidentiary hearing in Christian County Circuit Court, she testified that she & her nephew Matt were at the South Main Street home in April 2016 doing general cleaning & maintenance. The then-American Airlines commercial pilot stood trial for murder, arson, burglary, and tampering with evidence in connection to this case in 2021. Phillips told private investigators hired by Martin that he thought the pilot had stolen an Army laptop. 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. After all, it incorporates aspects of alleged cruelty and sexual abuse, a possible love triangle, and a man hoping to save his reputation by all means possible. 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? You had a loyal friend for the rest of your life.". The family of Calvin and Pamela Phillips have long maintained that Martin did in fact have a motive to kill the couple. Christian was their neighbor across the street and a then-Army Major awaiting a court-martial on several charges. Martin fatally shot three of his neighbors, Edward Dansereau and married couple Calvin and Pamela Phillips on Nov. 18, 2015, Cameron said. On the ground, investigators spotted a license plate and traced the numbers back to a woman named Pam Phillips. Christian Martin was arrested at Louisville Airport in connection to a 2015 triple murder case. If convicted, he could face the death penalty, prosecutors said. A car was smoldering - and inside were the unidentified remains of two people. Pamela Phillips, 58, and. 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. That same day, he allegedly shot and killed Pamela Phillips and Dansereau with a .22 caliber firearm, according to the indictment. "My private investigator went through all the allegations with him and just went down the whole line and just refuted everything. The pair was even looking forward to celebrating yet another anniversary, but sadly, they never got the chance. Cal Phillips was found shot to death in his home. Woman seriously injured after semi overturns; all lanes blocked on I-64 West to I-264 East, Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala announced celebrity guest list, Spencer County High School student dies in crash, Operation Return Home canceled for missing teen girls, KSP: Marion County man charged with child sexual exploitation offenses, 2-month-old retriever puppies arrive at Ky. Humane Society after being found in ditch, Louisville man looks to attend his 84th Kentucky Derby. The house was empty, but then police opened the cellar door. The triple murder case went cold until 2017 when the Kentucky Attorney Generals Office took over the case after talking to the Phillips family. The former pilot was found guilty on three counts of murder, two counts of 1st-degree burglary, arson, criminal attempt to commit arson, and three counts of tampering with evidence. However, that happened anyway when he was found guilty of mishandling classified military information and assault. Before he was found guilty in his court-martial, Martin had hired private investigators to help him build a defense. Ex-airline pilot finally goes on trial in gruesome Kentucky triple murder, who hadtakenthe stand to defend himselfearlier, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. RELATED: FERRIER FILES: Ex-wife of Army Major charged with triple murder breaks her silenceCalvin Phillips, Pam Phillips, and Ed Dansereau were all murdered in Pembroke, Kentucky in 2015. Matt says he wont speculate on why American Airlines wasnt aware of Martins conviction. Martin allegedly broke into the Phillips' home in Pembroke, Kentucky, on Nov. 18, 2015, and fatally shot Calvin Phillips with a .45 caliber pistol, according to an indictment unsealed on Monday. Cal Phillips, who served in the Gulf War, was ready to testify against Martin at Fort Campbell. 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. Scripps Company. 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. What district does Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde represent? (Christian County Jail). The pair was even looking forward to celebrating yet another anniversary, but sadly, they never got the chance. Meanwhile, Martin has become a cause clbre among mens rights groups and others who believe he is being railroaded by the state of Kentucky after being the target of a Pentagon sexual assault witch hunt based on frivolous accusations. Calvin Phillips, 59, was shot to death in the cellar of his home in Pembroke, Kentucky, on November 18, 2015. The cellphone analysis purportedly showed Martin took Pamela Phillips phone & drove with it toward Fort Campbell, where he worked.
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