MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Some Vermont lawmakers want increased penalties for murders involving the abuse of a corpse.
It comes in response to the July 2024 murder of Roberta Martin, 82, of Enosburgh.
Darren Martell, 23, is accused of sexually assaulting and killing Martin and then burning her body.
The unauthorized burial or removal is already a felony.
One of the bill’s sponsors says the goal is accountability.
“What would happen if the accused happened to get off on a technicality on the murder charge— so there’s no murder charge to be had– but there’s still proof that the body was moved and defaced. There could still be some fairly serious charges,” said Rep. Tom Burditt, R-West Rutland.
If the bill passes, a person charged with the new crime would face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
There’s still no timetable for when the bill will be taken up in the House Judiciary Committee.
Meanwhile, Martell is due back in court in the murder case in March.
