American Airlines pilot arrested in front of shocked passengers at Kentucky airport for 2015 triple homicide
A pilot for American Airlines' subsidiary PSA Airlines was arrested on Saturday at Louisville International Airport after he was charged in a 2015 triple homicide. According to reports, Christian Richard Martin was indicted Friday by a grand jury in the deaths of Pamela and Calvin Phillips, and their neighbor Edward Dansereau.
In a statement, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said that Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his Pembroke, Kentucky home on or about November 18, 2015, and the bodies of his wife and Dansereau were found in Pamela's burnt up car in a cornfield a few miles away.
Martin was indicted by a Christian County grand jury on three counts of murder; one count of arson; one count of attempted burglary in the first degree; and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. Beshear mentioned that the indictment was sealed until he was taken into custody.
Passengers at the Louisville airport were shocked by the pilot's sudden arrest. A woman said that she assumed their pilot had been intoxicated and learned of the reason for his arrest only later in the day.
The victims' family members said that they, along with hundreds of other people, were deeply affected after their relatives' lives were "brutally extinguished" in 2015. Every day, we are haunted by what was done to them and haunted further that someone was still free to do as they wish, beyond the civility of mankind or laws of our nation," they said in the statement released by Beshear's office. "We look forward to justice in court, and we look forward to a verdict to bring an end to this terror and a fresh start at healing."
Beshear said he had accepted a request from the local commonwealth's attorney two years ago to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case after the Phillips' son had expressed concern about the stalled investigation. Martin, who had moved from Christian County after the murders, was living in North Carolina at the time of indictment.
He is being held without bond and will be returned to Christian County to await trail, Beshear said.
American Airlines issued a statement about Martin's arrest: "All of us at American Airlines and PSA Airlines are deeply saddened to have learned about these allegations from 2015. Our team was made aware of the indictment this morning after his arrest at Louisville International Airport."
"We have an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our customers and team members, and we will provide any investigative assistance possible to law enforcement throughout their investigation," the statement further read.
Martin has been placed on administrative suspension, including suspension of all travel privileges, pending the outcome of the investigation and court proceedings.