David Deval Martin, 40, from McIntosh County, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 murder of a woman from Checotah. This marks the second time Martin has received a life sentence for this crime.
Martin was initially convicted and sentenced to life without parole in 2016 by a state jury in McIntosh County. However, that conviction was vacated following the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which clarified jurisdictional boundaries for crimes involving Native Americans on tribal land. Because Martin is a member of a federally recognized tribe and the crime occurred within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation, federal authorities prosecuted the case. In October 2024, a federal jury found Martin guilty of Murder in Indian Country.
Court documents show that on November 7, 2013, Martin attacked and killed his former partner by beating and stabbing her more than 109 times to her head and neck. The medical examiner estimated it took “20 to 30 [minutes] or longer” for these injuries to be inflicted and indicated that the victim was alive and likely conscious during much of the attack. Witnesses reported seeing Martin threaten the victim at a convenience store just hours before her death.
Investigators collected evidence linking Martin to the crime scene: his DNA mixed with the victim’s blood was found on the front door of her home; his fingerprint was discovered on a metal rod used as a weapon; and his DNA was also identified on the steering wheel of her abandoned car.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“The defendant in this case brutally murdered his victim in cold blood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “By retrying the case and securing a life sentence for the Defendant, the Department of Justice has demonstrated our commitment to seeking justice for the victims of violent crime in Indian Country.”
United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma stated: “The defendant’s heinous crime was deserving of the life sentence imposed by the Court. I am grateful for the thorough work of investigators and the skilled presentation of the evidence by colleagues from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. Their collective efforts were vital in securing justice for the victim’s family.”
Doug Goodwater, FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge said: “Thanks to the work of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), U.S. Attorney’s Office, and FBI Oklahoma City, this depraved and merciless killer has been sentenced to spend rest of his life in federal prison. Today’s sentencing underscores FBI’s dedication to working with our partners and achieving justice for victims of violent crimes in Indian Country.”
Hunter McKee from OSBI added: “The OSBI appreciates great work conducted by our law enforcement partners throughout this investigation. Obtaining justice for victim and their family is crucial for all agencies involved. We are thankful for everyone’s dedication and commitment.”
Martin will remain under custody until he is transferred to serve his sentence at a United States Bureau of Prisons facility.
Trial Attorneys Jared A. Hernandez and Brian W. Lynch represented prosecutors from DOJ’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS). This case is noted as being part of VCRS’s final indictments related to its partnership with Eastern District prosecutors following the Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which shifted jurisdiction over certain serious crimes involving Native Americans within reservation boundaries from state courts to federal courts.
