ENOSBURGH, Vt. (TCN) — State police recently arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of sexually assaulting and killing his elderly neighbor, who was reported missing several days before her body was found.
According to Vermont State Police, family members last heard from 82-year-old Roberta Martin on Tuesday, July 16. Neighbors went to her house, noticed she wasn’t home, and reported her missing the following day.
A search for Martin ensued with assistance from multiple agencies. Several days later, on Sunday, July 21, state police found human remains in a wooded area, and the medical examiner positively identified the victim as Martin.
On July 22, state police detectives attempted to locate Darren Martell, one of multiple people they were interviewing as part of the investigation. Authorities saw Martell in a wooded area and approached him while he was allegedly masturbating along a walking path near a school. Martell reportedly noticed the detectives and fled.
According to state police, the nearby school went into lockdown, and authorities began searching for Martell in the area. Officials located Martell shortly after and initially arrested him on a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct.
Upon further investigation, authorities identified Martell as the primary suspect in Martin’s death. Police allege he broke into the victim’s home, sexually assaulted her, dumped her remains in a wooded area, and tried to burn them, WCAX-TV reports. Investigators reportedly collected DNA from Martin’s body, which pointed to Martin as the suspect.
On Thursday, July 25, state police arrested Martell on a charge of aggravated murder while he was already in custody. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Martell remains held in the Vermont Department of Corrections without bail.