Three people have been indicted on murder charges after prosecutors allege they brutally beat a Shirley man to death inside his own home using a sledgehammer, a baseball bat, a 20-pound dumbbell, and even a television.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced that Korey Sammarco, 36, of Shirley, Melissa Fawcett, 50, of Central Islip, and Benjamin Sheppard, 34, of Central Islip were each indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree gang assault in connection with the death of Christopher Martin, 48, of Shirley.
According to the investigation, the attack happened at approximately 7 p.m. on June 14, 2026, when the three defendants allegedly entered Martin’s home through the front door. Prosecutors allege Sammarco, who was Martin’s roommate and friend, kicked in the locked bedroom door before striking Martin in the head with a sledgehammer, knocking him to the ground. Authorities said Sammarco and Martin had been arguing for weeks leading up to the attack. Fawcett, identified as Martin’s former girlfriend, had also allegedly been feuding with him following the end of their relationship.
Prosecutors allege the three defendants then spent more than 30 minutes beating Martin with a television, a 20-pound dumbbell, and a baseball bat. They also allegedly broke his cellphone to prevent him from calling police. Martin was later found by another roommate and transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators later executed multiple search warrants and recovered the alleged weapons, including the sledgehammer, television, dumbbell, and bat.
“This case is extremely disturbing,” Tierney said, alleging the defendants “brutally beat Christopher Martin to death in his own home.” He thanked the Suffolk County Police Department for its investigation and said prosecutors will seek justice for Martin and his family.
Sammarco and Fawcett were arraigned July 1, while Sheppard was arraigned July 2 before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro. All three defendants were ordered held without bail while the case is pending.
Sammarco and Fawcett are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 6, while Sheppard is due back Aug. 10. If convicted of the top charge, each faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
The charges are allegations, and all three defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Photo: Neighborhood where the incident took place in Shirley/Google Photos.
