Netflix’s “A Deadly American Marriage” sheds light on the tragic story of the Corbett family involving Jason Corbett, Molly Martens Corbett, and the siblings Jack and Sarah Corbett-Lynch. This documentary explores the events surrounding Jason’s murder in 2015 by his wife, Molly, and her father, Tom Martens, who claimed self-defense. At the time of the incident, Jack and Sarah were 10 and 8 years old, having already endured the loss of their mother years earlier.
The siblings, Jack and Sarah Corbett-Lynch, faced immense tragedy during their childhoods. By the ages of 10 and 8, respectively, they had experienced the deaths of both their parents. Their mother, Margaret Fitzpatrick, passed away unexpectedly in 2006 from an asthma attack, leaving Jack at 2 years old and Sarah as a newborn. Then, in 2015, tragedy struck again when their father, Jason Corbett, was brutally killed in their home, while Jack and Sarah were sleeping nearby.
The murder by Molly Martens Corbett, their stepmother, and her father, Tom Martens, added to the family’s anguish. Despite claiming self-defense and alleging abuse by Jason, Molly and Tom were eventually charged with second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Their convictions were overturned in 2020, leading to a plea deal in 2023 and their release from prison in 2024.
Now, a new Netflix documentary, “A Deadly American Marriage,” delves into the complex story, featuring exclusive interviews with those involved. This docuseries aims to uncover the truth behind the events of August 1, 2015, and address lingering questions. It also explores the current lives of Jack and Sarah Corbett-Lynch, providing insight into where they are now and who they are as individuals.
At the age of 3, Jack and 17-month-old Sarah are mentioned in Sarah’s 2025 memoir, titled “A Time for Truth: My Father Jason and My Search for Justice and Healing.” Soon after Molly arrived in Ireland, her professional relationship with Jason transitioned into a romantic one. Molly shared in a 2021 interview with Elle that, feeling lost and inadequate after leaving Clemson University, caring for Jason and his two young children gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
Following their Valentine’s Day engagement in the previous year, Jason, Molly, Jack, and Sarah relocated to a suburb of Winston-Salem, North Carolina in April 2011 as reported by the Irish Times. In June 2011, Jason and Molly tied the knot in Molly’s hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, with Jack as a ring bearer and Sarah as a flower girl. Sarah reveals in her memoir that initially, her father had reservations about moving the family to the United States, wanting to ensure Molly’s happiness as she was considered a mother figure by Jack and Sarah.
The events of August 1, 2015, changed the course of Jack and Sarah’s lives following their father’s tragic death. On that day, a seemingly ordinary Saturday, Jason was mowing the lawn with the help of a neighbor before having beers in the driveway while the children played and the wives socialized. Later that evening, Molly’s parents unexpectedly visited, leading to a fatal altercation that resulted in Jason’s death.
During the night, a violent incident occurred between Jason, Molly, and Molly’s father, Tom Martens. Tom, a former FBI agent, made a 911 call reporting his intervention in a fight, leading to Jason’s death. Molly and Tom claimed self-defense, alleging that Jason had a history of abuse.
Following the tragedy, Sarah Corbett Lynch and Jack Corbett Lynch faced the challenges of coping with the loss of their father.
After her husband’s death, Molly Lynch and her husband David Lynch became the guardians of Jack and Sarah. Molly later filed for custody in a bitter battle over the children, as reported by the Irish Independent. It was revealed during the legal proceedings that Jason had resisted Molly’s attempts to adopt the children and was protective of their Irish citizenship. Concerned that the children might not be returned to Ireland if something happened to him, Jason had expressed his worries to his brother John, according to the Irish Independent.
Following a three-week custody case, a judge ruled in favor of the Lynches, and Jack and Sarah (then 10 and 8 years old, respectively) were placed under the care of their aunt and uncle in Ireland. Molly, devastated by the court’s decision, tried to stay connected with the children through Facebook messages, expressing her endless love for them.
During the subsequent murder trial of Tom and Molly Lynch in the summer of 2017, Jack, then 13, delivered a poignant victim impact statement in court, emphasizing the void left by his father’s absence. The emotional impact of his words resonated deeply, leading to the sentencing of Tom and Molly to 20 to 25 years in prison.
Jack and Sarah’s initial statements alleging abuse by their father were later recanted, with claims that Molly had coached them on what to say. These statements were excluded from the 2017 trial but played a significant role in the appeal process. The exclusion of evidence and other legal issues led to the overturning of Tom and Molly’s convictions in 2020, prompting a new trial.
However, in 2023, Molly and Tom accepted plea deals, avoiding a second trial. Molly pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, while Tom pleaded guilty to the same charge, resulting in the dropping of the more serious charges of second-degree murder. At their re-sentencing in November 2023, both Jack and Sarah’s testimonies were crucial factors in the legal proceedings.
Sarah and Jack appeared in court to speak out against their former stepmother, Molly Martens, who was convicted of killing their father Jason. Jack accused Molly of being manipulative and described her as a “monster.” Sarah also harshly criticized Molly, stating that she and her accomplice, Tom Martens, used her words as a child to avoid facing the consequences of their actions.
Since their father’s death in 2015, Sarah and Jack have been living with their aunt and uncle in Limerick, Ireland. They have spent the past decade healing from the trauma of losing their parents and seeking justice for their father. Sarah is more vocal about her experiences, sharing on social media and authoring books about her journey. On the other hand, Jack, a singer-songwriter studying music in college, prefers to keep a low profile regarding his parents’ deaths.
Both siblings participated in a Netflix documentary, A Deadly American Marriage, to shed light on the impact of the lack of justice in their case and to honor their father’s memory. They believe it is their responsibility to continue speaking up for him, despite his silence.
