Assassination attempt inspired by TV crime dramas ends in life imprisonment

In a case that illustrates the dangers of attempting to draw inspiration from fictional crime dramas, a Queens man has been sentenced to life in prison for a carefully planned and gruesome murder aimed at collecting life insurance benefits.

Cory Martin, 37, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn after being convicted earlier this year on several charges, including murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Martin, who ran a commercial sex operation, took out fraudulent life insurance policies on Brandy Odom, 26, one of the women who worked for him. According to prosecutors, Martin watched crime shows like “The First 48” and “Dexter” to get tips on how to evade police and dispose of a body. His co-conspirator testified that the two discussed crime scene tactics and believed these dramatizations could serve as a guide to real-life crime.

In April 2018, Martin strangled Odom in their Rosedale home. He then dismembered her body with a reciprocating saw, which he researched online and also watched tutorials on YouTube. To avoid leaving any trace, Martin covered the bathroom with trash bags before disposing of Odom’s remains in Canarsie Park in Brooklyn.

The case gained public attention as Martin obsessively searched for news of the discovery of Odom’s body parts. Despite his efforts to cover his tracks, the joint investigative work of the FBI and NYPD ultimately brought him to justice.

“This defendant will now spend the rest of his life in prison for his cold-blooded crime motivated solely by greed,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “Martin believed he could outwit law enforcement by pursuing TV crime dramas, but justice prevailed.”