ST. ALBANS, Vt. (WCAX) – A St. Albans man was charged Friday afternoon with aggravated murder in the death of an Enosburgh woman in her home.
Darren Martell, 23, appeared in St. Albans Court and pleaded not guilty to the brutal killing of 82-year-old Roberta Martin.
Court paperwork states Martell broke into Martin’s home, sexually assaulted her, killed her, and then burned her body.
Martin’s remains were found less than a mile from her home, where investigators found DNA on her body that matched Martell’s.
Martell had been living in a trailer next door to Martin’s home and prosecutors say he did not know or have any connection to her.
Martell has been in jail since police had previously arrested him on an unrelated lewd and lascivious charge Monday morning after he was spotted masturbating in the Greenwood Cemetery in St. Albans. Troopers were already looking for Martell to question him in connection with the homicide investigation.
If convicted, Martell could face a life sentence in prison without the opportunity for parole.
Reporter Cam Smith will have more on today’s arraignment on the Channel News at 5 and 6.