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Christian Richard Martin (Photo: Christian County Detention Center)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Authorities arrested an American Airlines pilot on Saturday morning in connection with the deaths of three people in 2015 in Kentucky.
Christian Richard Martin, 51, was arrested Saturday at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport by US Service Marshall authorities, the Christian County Sheriff's Office and the Louisville Metro Police Department, according to the office Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear.
Martin has been indicted by a grand jury in Christian County for three counts of murder. a criminal fire chief; a charge of attempted arson, a first degree burglary and three counts of falsification of material evidence.
Lanesha Gipson, spokesperson for American Airlines, said Martin had been working as a pilot for PSA Airlines, a US subsidiary, since January 2018.
Martin was put on administrative suspense pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, Gipson said.
A criminal background check that all pilots undergo revealed no criminal history to Martin "that would prevent him from being a professional pilot," added Gipson.
"All employees of American Airlines and PSA Airlines are deeply saddened to have been informed of these allegations since 2015," Gipson said. "We have an unwavering commitment to the safety of our clients and members of our team, and we will provide all investigative assistance to law enforcement throughout their investigation." . "
The arrest of Martin comes a day after a grand jury from Christian County indicted him in the murder of Calvin and Pamela Phillips and Edward Dansereau in 2015.
Calvin Phillips was shot dead on November 18, 2015 at his home in Pembroke.
The bodies of his wife, Pamela Phillips, and the couple's neighbor, Dansereau, were found a few miles away in a cornfield inside a burnt car owned by Pamela Phillips.
Beshear announced the indictment on Saturday, nearly two years after declaring he met the couple 's son, Matt, who feared the case would be blocked.
After this meeting, Beshear accepted the Commonwealth attorney's request to appoint a special attorney from his office to deal with the case.
"I hope this day will do justice to these families," said Beshear. "There are many steps from here, but we hope this is an example of what happens when you never stop asking for justice, when you never give up, that we can actually achieve important results. for these families. "
According to Beshear 's office, Martin reportedly left Christian County after the alleged killings and was living in North Carolina at the time of the indictment.
The indictment had been sealed until Martin's arrest.
According to Beshear's office, the family members of the victims expressed "an outpouring of emotion, sincere relief and absolute gratitude to all those who worked diligently in this case".
"We look forward to justice in court and look forward to the verdict that will put an end to this terror and a new beginning for healing," said the family of victims in a statement.
The office of the Christian County Sheriff and the Kentucky State Police also investigated the case.
Martin will be sent back to Christian County to await trial. Judge John Adkins of the Christian County Court of Appeal ordered that Martin be detained without bail, according to court records.
The Special Prosecutions Unit of the Beshear office will prosecute.
Read or share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/11/airline-pilot-charged-with-killing-three-people-in-kentucky/1178100001/
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