Queens Man Convicted of Murdering and Dismembering Woman in Fraudulent Scheme to Collect Life Insurance Benefits

Today, a federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict against Cory Martin on all counts of a superseding indictment charging him with murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identify theft and fraudulent use of identification relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain life insurance policies in the name of a woman, murder her and collect the insurance proceeds.  The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly.  When sentenced, Martin faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.

“It is fitting that that Martin faces a mandatory sentence to spend the rest of his life in prison for this ghastly, cold-blooded crime that was motivated by greed and executed after extensive planning,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Martin saw the victim as a moneymaker, trafficking her for commercial sex, then after killing her with his bare hands, tossing out her slaughtered body parts like trash so he could profit from her death.  Brandy Odom suffered an unthinkable death at the defendant’s hands, but her life mattered and I hope that this verdict holding the defendant responsible brings some measure of closure to her family.” 

“Today’s guilty verdict is a message to anyone who, without fear of being held accountable, commits heinous acts of criminality in New York City,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The NYPD will continue to collaborate with the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to conduct meticulous investigations that lead to successful prosecutions, and ultimately deliver justice to victims.”

As proved at trial, Martin resided at a house in Rosedale, Queens, with the then-26-year-old victim, Brandy Odom, and a co-conspirator who were engaged in commercial sex work for the defendant who operated as their pimp.  In March and December 2017, Martin and the co-conspirator fraudulently obtained two life insurance policies in Odom’s name.  They made premium payments to the life insurance companies by Western Union money orders and by using a debit card in Odom’s name. At trial, Martin’s co-conspirator testified that prior to Odom’s murder, she and the defendant watched “The First 48,” a true-crime TV show about police tactics and they discussed “what not to do, and what things to do to avoid being caught by the police.”  The co-conspirator testified that Martin also watched “Dexter,” a TV show about a serial killer who dismembered his victims, because the defendant was “looking for ways to commit the crime when he got rid of Brandy.”

In early April 2018, Martin strangled Odom in her bedroom.  Martin and the co-conspirator then purchased cleaning supplies and a vacuum— to clean up the murder scene—at the Green Acres Mall on Long Island.  On April 6, 2018, Martin searched Home Depot’s website for a “Dewalt 12-Amp Corded Reciprocating Saw,” described as featuring a “powerful 12 Amp motor designed for heavy-duty applications.”  Later that evening, Martin searched YouTube for “how to insert blade for reciprocating saw” and “using reciprocating saw.”  The co-conspirator testified that Martin used an electric saw to dismember the victim’s corpse in the bathtub after covering every surface in the bathroom with heavy-duty, black garbage bags to eliminate evidence of the killing.

In the early morning of April 8 and April 9, 2018, Martin disposed of Odom’s body parts in Canarsie Park with the assistance of his co-conspirator.  On April 10, 2018, Martin conducted dozens of Internet searches for news articles, including “Search area expands after dismembered body found in Canarsie Park in Brooklyn.”  Martin also accessed a Twitter post titled “Person walking dog discovers remains of woman in Brooklyn park.”  The following day on April 11, 2018, Martin searched YouTube using the search term “exclusive interview of mother of girl found in park.”  After Odom’s murder, at Martin’s direction, his co-conspirator made several unsuccessful attempts to claim benefits under Odom’s life insurance policies.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Emily Dean and Andy Palacio are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader.

The Defendant:

CORY MARTIN
Age:  36
Rosedale, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-549(S-1) (AMD)