Suspect arrested on aggravated murder charge in killing of Roberta Martin

The Vermont State Police arrested a 23-year-old man from St. Albans late Thursday on a charge of aggravated murder arising from the killing of Roberta Martin of Enosburgh.

Darren Martell, who had been living with the residents of a house next door to Martin’s home on Butternut Hollow Road, is expected to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2024, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans. State police arrested Martell on the murder charge Thursday night while he was in custody at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, where he has been jailed since Monday on an unrelated charge of lewd and lascivious conduct. A judge ordered that Martell be held without bail pending arraignment on the aggravated murder charge, which upon conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Vermont State Police worked closely throughout this investigation with the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office, which will handle Martell’s prosecution.

No additional information is currently available. The affidavit of probable cause will be filed with the court and made public following Martell’s arraignment. Members of the media should contact the court clerk’s office to confirm details of the hearing.