A 23-year-old man from St. Albans, Vermont, known as Darren Martell, pleaded not guilty to the aggravated murder of an 82-year-old neighbor in Enosburg. The victim, Roberta Martin, had gone missing at the beginning of the month, sparking concerns in the community. Martell appeared in court on Friday after being charged at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, where he was already in custody on an unrelated charge.
The tragic incident began when Martin’s daughter requested neighbors to check on her mother, leading to the discovery of signs of a break-in by the Vermont State Police. Subsequently, a search operation was initiated and tragically concluded when Martin’s remains were found on July 21. Franklin County State’s Attorney Bram Kranichfeld expressed deep sorrow for what he described as a “terrible tragedy for our community.”
Martell had been residing in a house next to Martin’s residence in Enosburgh, as per police reports. Prior to being charged in Martin’s death, Martell had been arrested for lewd and lascivious misconduct on an unrelated charge, leading to his incarceration. As of the latest reports, Martell remains detained at the Northwest State Correctional Facility; however, it is uncertain whether he has legal representation.
