New York Man Allegedly Uses ‘Dexter’ as a Deadly Guide in Chilling Crime

A New York man, Cory Martin, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder and dismemberment of 26-year-old Brandy Odom, a crime allegedly inspired by the TV show Dexter. Federal prosecutors stated that Martin, 37, plotted to profit from Odom’s death by taking out fraudulent life insurance policies in her name, hoping to evade capture by emulating crime techniques he observed on shows like Dexter and The First 48.

In addition to life imprisonment, a federal judge in Brooklyn imposed a concurrent 20-year sentence for wire fraud and a consecutive two-year term for aggravated identity theft. According to U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, Martin saw Odom as a means to make money. “He trafficked her for commercial sex, then killed her with his bare hands so he could profit from her death,” Peace said, calling the act a “ghastly, cold-blooded crime” driven by greed, told AP News.

Odom, a sex worker at the time, had been living with Martin in Queens. Prosecutors revealed that in 2017, Martin and a co-conspirator took out two life insurance policies in her name. A year later, Martin allegedly strangled her to death in her bedroom. The crime surfaced when a cadaver dog detected Odom’s scent in one of Martin’s vehicles, leading authorities to uncover evidence against him.

Prior to the killing, Martin had reportedly searched for a “Dewalt 12-Amp Corded Reciprocating Saw” on Home Depot’s website and looked up instructional videos on YouTube for using the saw’s blade, prosecutors stated. Martin’s accomplice testified during the trial that the electric saw was used to dismember Odom’s body in the bathtub. Together, they purchased cleaning supplies to assist in concealing the crime, and later, Odom’s dismembered body was found dumped in a Brooklyn park.

After disposing of Odom’s remains, Martin and his co-conspirator attempted to cash in on the fraudulent life insurance policies but were unsuccessful. In 2020, they were arrested and, following a two-week trial, a federal jury convicted Martin in March of this year.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace emphasized the role of law enforcement in uncovering Martin’s attempt to cover up the crime using tactics from crime TV shows. “The defendant believed he could thwart law enforcement and cover up this heinous crime by relying on television shows about murder, but the investigatory efforts of law enforcement brought him to justice,” Peace stated.

Odom’s mother, Nicole, spoke to CBS New York, remembering her daughter as a kind and gentle person who “didn’t have any enemies.” Her tragic death and Martin’s manipulation of their relationship for financial gain left a profound impact on her family and community. CBS News attempted to reach Martin’s attorneys for comment but received no response.