Dallas-Fort Worth radio show host Russ Martin found dead at home, police say

This story is in development and will be updated.

Frisco Police are investigating the death of longtime North Texas radio host Russ Martin after his body was found at his home early Saturday.

Officers were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday to the 6300 block of Douglas Avenue, near Lebanon Road and the Dallas North Tollway, after a friend of Martin’s who came to see him found him unresponsive, the police said. police.

Martin was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The cause of death has not been determined, but police said foul play was not suspected. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Frisco Police at 972-292-6010.

Martin hosted the Russ Martin Show on “The Eagle” KEGL-FM (97.1).

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of 97.1 The Eagle’s Russ Martin,” the station said in a written statement. “He will be sadly missed and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.

The station’s regular programming was cut off on Saturday afternoon to give Martin’s colleagues the opportunity to discuss the news as well as Martin’s life and career.

“Our friend is gone,” said Dan O’Malley. “We’re all dealing with this.”

An emotional Clo Raborn, who was on Martin’s show, said he had barely slept since learning Martin was dead.

“I wish there was something we could say to improve it,” Raborn told listeners.

During their impromptu program on Saturday, Martin’s colleagues thanked the Grapevine Police Department for their help in locating and informing Martin’s mother. They also thanked the Frisco police for their help throughout the morning.

Martin’s colleagues said the station will hold an appropriate tribute to Martin in the coming days. They ended an hour of programming with a toast to Martin.

Martin’s co-hosts said that although Martin had faced personal hardships, he had worked hard to do good in the community through the founding of his program. After a shooting in 2016 that killed five police officers, Martin’s Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation raised up to $ 40,000 which was donated to the families of the slain police officers.

O’Malley said Martin recently donated $ 40,000 to the widow of Mitchell Penton, a Dallas police officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier this month.

“I want you to know that,” O’Malley told listeners, describing it as one of Martin’s last acts before his death. “Despite everything he was going through, he managed to grab a pen and sign the check.

In September 2008, a Tarrant County grand jury filed an assault complaint against Martin after his arrest two months earlier on suspicion of hitting his fiance and wielding a gun at their home in Southlake. Grand jurors refused to arrest him on more serious complaints.

Martin was robbed at gunpoint in 2015 when three gunmen wearing masks confronted him as he arrived at his home in Frisco.

The men tied Martin to a chair and held him at gunpoint as they confiscated valuables, including several guns. They fled in his 2010 Dodge Challenger, police said.

Those involved in the theft were sentenced to terms ranging from just under 12 years to 62 years in prison.