The countless scripted and unscripted true crime series dominating TV may provide a fun weekend binge for law-abiding citizens, but for those with bad intentions they could be used as inspiration. In a case of life imitating art, one New York criminal reportedly tried to use Showtime’s “Dexter” as inspiration to get away with murder.
According to True Crime Daily, a jury in New York on Monday “found Cory Martin guilty of murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and fraudulent use of identification in a plot to kill 26-year-old Brandy Odom.” Martin now “faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.”
Odom lived with Martin’s co-conspirator in Queens, New York, where they “engaged in commercial sex work for the defendant who operated as their pimp.” Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Eastern New York, in March and December 2017, Martin and the co-conspirator illegally opened two life insurance policies in Odom’s name.
The co-conspirator reportedly testified that Martin watched the unscripted true crime series “The First 48” to figure out “what not to do and what things to do to avoid being caught by the police.” Martin allegedly also used “Dexter” as inspiration “for ways to commit the crime when he got rid of Brandy.”
The details of the April 2018 crime are brutal, with the attorney’s office reporting that after strangling Odom in her bedroom, Martin and the co-conspirator purchased supplies to clean the crime scene. This was followed on April 8, 2018 with Martin reportedly searching Home Depot’s website for a “Dewalt 12-Amp Corded Reciprocating Saw.” Prosecutors also pointed out that later that night Martin “searched YouTube for ‘how to insert blade for reciprocating saw’ and ‘using reciprocating saw.’”
The co-conspirator revealed that “Martin covered the bathroom in heavy-duty black trash bags before dismembering Odom’s body in the bathtub with an electric saw.” Then on April 8, early April 9, 2018, they disposed of Odom’s remains in Canarsie Park.
Martin then followed the progress of the investigation online, discovering a X f.k.a. Twitter post reading, “Person walking dog discovers remains of woman in Brooklyn park,” as well as searching YouTube for “exclusive interview of mother of girl found in park.” He then instructed the co-conspirator to collect the life insurance benefits, which she couldn’t claim after several attempts.
Once the dust settles around this case, it may be presented as a sensational “pimp imitates ‘Dexter’ case,” but it’s important that we don’t lose sight of a young Black woman who was trafficked, abused and ultimately killed in a dehumanizing manner.