The life and close to loss of life of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin

Christy Salters-Martin dominated within the boxing ring however confronted her hardest challenger at dwelling. A glance inside her turbulent marriage and proof used within the tried homicide trial of her ex-husband, Jim Martin.

Former world champion Christy Salters-Martin is credited with legitimizing girls’s boxing. She was the primary feminine boxer ever to seem on the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated.

One of many Weapons Used

On Nov. 23, 2010, Christy’s husband Jim Martin stabbed and shot her together with her personal pink 9mm handgun.

Christy Martin Survives

That is the story of the wedding, the assault and the way Christy Martin lived to testify towards her husband.

Christy and Jim Meet

Christy Salters met her coach and coach Jim Martin when she was 22 and he was 47. 

Christy and Jim Marry

A yr later, Christy and Jim had been married at metropolis corridor. Christy says it was a enterprise deal —  not a love story — as a result of she identifies as homosexual.

Younger Christy Salters

Christy Martin says that by the fifth or sixth grade, she knew she was interested in girls.

Christy’s First Love

Christy Martin, proper, saved her first girlfriend, fellow highschool athlete Sherry Lusk, a secret from her household. 

Christy & Her Mother and father

Her dad and mom would later discover out that Christy was relationship women and she or he says they could not settle for it. They’ve since come round and accepted her, however Christy says on the time she went away to varsity and began boxing to win her freedom. 

Jim Knew All the things

Jim Martin knew about Christy’s previous and she or he says he used it to manage her — threatening to reveal her secrets and techniques if she left him. She says she was not emotionally sturdy sufficient to combat again.

Within the Highlight

In 1996, Don King made Christy Martin world well-known when he featured her on a Pay-Per-View occasion headlined by Mike Tyson. 

The Crime Scene

Christy Martin says the cash she made after that combat paid for Jim’s extravagant way of life, and their dwelling in Apopka, Florida. In November 2010, that dwelling grew to become a criminal offense scene.

Christy & Her First Love Reconnect

In March 2010, Christy Martin, proper, and her highschool girlfriend Sherry Lusk linked on social media. In November 2010, Christy informed Jim Martin she needed a divorce.

Moments Earlier than the Crime

On Nov. 23, 2010, after spending the night time with Sherry Luck, Christy Martin arrived dwelling anticipating a combat with Jim. She says she was placing on her trainers when Jim walked in and mentioned, “I’ve one thing to indicate you.”

The Knife

Christy says Jim Martin had this buck knife behind his again.

The Pink Gun

Christy says Jim Martin additionally had her pink 9mm handgun. 

The Crime Scene

Christy Martin was stabbed a number of instances within the chest. Her left leg was reduce practically to the bone.

Following the Path of Jim’s Blood

Police would later discover drops of Jim Martin’s blood in a number of rooms. Christy says she might hear him strolling round whereas she was on the bed room ground bleeding. 

Christy’s Cell Cellphone

Christy Martin says she begged Jim to name 911. As a substitute, she says he taunted her and eliminated the battery from her mobile phone.

Home Telephones Disabled

Jim Martin additionally disconnected two home telephones.

A Bullet Casing

Christy Martin says Jim then shot her within the chest together with her personal gun. Christy says she then misplaced consciousness.

Water within the Bathe

An hour after the combat started, Christy Martin says she regained consciousness and heard Jim having a shower. Police photographs present water within the bathe and blood on the toilet ground.

The Mistaken Automobile Keys

Whereas Jim Martin was showering, Christy acquired up off the ground, grabbed the gun and automobile keys and fled. However when she acquired outdoors, she realized she took the fallacious automobile keys.

A Courageous, Passing Motorist

Christy Martin flagged down a passing driver. When he rolled down his window, she tossed her bloody gun into his automobile, jumped into the backseat and begged him to take her to the emergency room. 

Christy Martin Survives

On the emergency room, docs stabilized Christy Martin, then airlifted her to a close-by trauma middle. Surgeons determined to not take away a bullet lodged three inches from her coronary heart till she was stronger.

Christy Martin’s Accidents

Medical doctors stitched 4 deep stab wounds in Christy Martin’s chest and the gash in her left leg.

Jim Martin is Discovered

Whereas docs labored to save lots of Christy Martin’s life, Jim Martin went lacking. Seven days later, he was discovered not removed from the crime scene, in a bush by this deserted home. 

Jim Martin’s Hideout

Jim Martin informed police that Christy attacked him, and he ran in concern to the shed belonging to a neighbor and shut buddy. There, he says he slipped right into a coma till that very morning.

The Knife is Discovered

When police discovered Jim Martin, he had the buck knife used to stab Christy and this bloody T-shirt.

Jim Martin’s Wounds

On the hospital, docs handled a number of small cuts and one giant gash on Jim Martin’s proper hand. Christy would later testify that Jim acquired that reduce whereas he was stabbing her.

Jim Martin Arrested and Tried

Jim Martin was charged with first-degree tried homicide.  At his April 2012 trial, he was discovered responsible of tried homicide, however not pre-meditated and sentenced to 25 years.

On Nov. 26, 2024, Jim Martin died in custody. He was 80 years previous.