Posted on: July 06, 2026 07:00 AM

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Three charged with murder after victim beaten to death in shirley home

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Korey Sammarco, 36, of Shirley, Melissa Fawcett, 50, of Central Islip, and Benjamin Sheppard, 34, of Central Islip, were each indicted for Murder in the Second Degree and Gang Assault, for allegedly beating Christopher Martin, 48, of Shirley, to death.

“These defendants are alleged to have brutally beaten Christopher Martin to death in his own home,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The allegations here are extremely disturbing, and we will seek justice for Mr. Martin and his family. I thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their thorough investigation in this case.”

According to the investigation, on June 14, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m., all three defendants allegedly went to the victim’s home and entered through the front door. Sammarco allegedly kicked down the victim’s locked bedroom door and hit him on the head with a sledgehammer, knocking him to the ground. Sammarco and the victim, who were friends and roommates, had allegedly been arguing in the weeks prior. Fawcett, the victim’s former girlfriend, had also allegedly been feuding with the victim after he had broken up with her.

For more than 30 minutes, the defendants allegedly viciously beat the victim using a television, a 20-pound dumbbell, and a bat. They also allegedly broke the victim’s phone so that he could not call the police. Martin was later discovered by a roommate and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants and recovered the sledgehammer, television, dumbbell, and bat.

On July 1, 2026, Sammarco and Fawcett were each arraigned on the indictment for two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, Class A felonies; and one count of Gang Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro.

On July 2, 2026, Sheppard was arraigned on the indictment for two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, Class A felonies; and one count of Gang Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro.

Justice Ambro ordered Sammarco, Fawcett and Sheppard remanded during the pendency of the case.

Sammarco is due back in court on August 6, 2026. He is being represented by John Halverson, Esq. Fawcett is due back in court on August 6, 2026. She is being represented by Eric Besso, Esq.

Sheppard is due back in court on August 10, 2026. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.

All three defendants face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

From DA