March trial set in Martin murder case
Published 10:59 am Monday, November 11, 2019
Convicted killer Lonnie Martin is back on the trial docket in Clark County for allegedly killing his cousin in 1995.
Martin, 46, of Stanton, pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year for the 2013 death of Winchester resident Kyla Kline in Montgomery County.
Thursday, a judge scheduled Martin’s Clark County trial to begin March 23, 2020, nearly seven years after his arrest and 25 years after the death of Joseph B. Martin.
Police reopened the investigation into J.B. Martin’s death following Lonnie Martin’s arrest in 2013 by Montgomery County officials. Detectives found enough evidence to arrest Lonnie Martin. Prosecutors in Clark County did not want to try the case until the Montgomery County case was resolved.
Joseph Martin died on Oct. 29, 1995, after he fell from a Washington Street viaduct over the railroad tracks. He landed on the tracks and was dragged by a train. Initially, Winchester Police believed foul play was involved but did not have enough evidence to charge anyone.
Following his arrest in 2013, he was interviewed again by Winchester Police, who said he made a statement which prompted them to reopen the investigation.
Lonnie Martin is presently serving a 10-year sentence for first-degree manslaughter in state prison.