Pregnant woman accused of killing boyfriend during fight over cooking
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 15, 2009 at 3:02 p.m.
Michelle Martin
Prosecutors filed murder charges today against a pregnant woman accused of stabbing to death her boyfriend during an argument over her cooking.
Another witness said the first Denver murder in 2009 occurred when an angry Michelle Martin started "going off" because her boyfriend went to do laundry with a buddy instead of her, according to Fox 31 TV news.
Martin, 33, was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Michael Jerome Thomas this afternoon, said Denver District Attorney spokesperson Lynn Kimbrough.
Martin remains in custody in the Denver County Jail, where she is being held without bond. She is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court Tuesday to be advised of the charge against her.
Police were called to the couple's home at 3421 Humboldt St. about 8:51 p.m. Jan. 9 on a reported stabbing.
They found paramedics and firefighters intensely working to stabilize the 43-year-old Thomas, police said. He was pronounced dead 34 minutes later at Denver Health Medical Center.
A male roommate told police the couple went into their bedroom and he heard "Michelle and Michael argue over food that Michelle had cooked earlier in the day," Denver homicide Detective Joseph A. Delmonico wrote in a sworn statement supporting the woman's arrest.
Suddenly, the roommate heard a thud against the bedroom door and Martin said: "Michael, get off me."
Then Martin opened the door and walked out, looking at her right hand, the roommate told police. Detective Delmonico later noticed Martin had a cut on her right index finger and blood on her pants leg.
The roommate said he asked Martin if anything was wrong, she snapped: "Get out of the way!"
The roommate follow Martin back into the room, where he found Thomas lying on the floor with a large knife wound to his belly, the detective's statement said. Thomas was breathing hard but was unresponsive.
A closed maroon folding knife lay by the victim's right hand.
The roommate said he rushed next door to call for help.
A firefighter told police when he arrived, he found a black woman wiping a counter with a rag as the victim lay nearby.
In a videotaped interview, Martin told Delmonico that Thomas was the father of her child and she was pregnant with another baby.
She denied any involvement in his death.
Instead, Martin said Thomas had just returned home after she told him to go get another load of laundry when he suddenly collapsed to the floor, the detective said in the statement. She said an unidentified individual had followed Thomas in the door and then left through the front door.
Neighbor David "K. C." Douglas said Martin was upset because Thomas had gone to do laundry with Douglas — not her, according to Fox 31.
"She was just mad and and going off, and I figured they would settle it," Douglas told Fox 31.
Soon afterward, the couples' roommate rushed in asking Douglas to call 911.
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January 15, 2009
3:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
outspokengirl123 writes:
DANG WELL NOW YOU KNOW DON'T MESS WITH A WOMAN WHEN SHE IS PREGNANT CAUSE SHE WILL GO CRAZY ON YOU AND KILL YOU OVER A LOAD OF LAUNDRY!!
WHAT A TRAGEDY FOR THEY'RE BABIES NOW THEY HAVE LOST NOT ONLY A DAD BUT A MOM AS WELL.
January 15, 2009
3:13 p.m.
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Bagel writes:
Dude....caps key, go ahead and click that before you start typing.
January 15, 2009
3:14 p.m.
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The_KIMN_Chicken writes:
Well said.
January 15, 2009
3:16 p.m.
HankReardon writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:17 p.m.
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leavemealone writes:
Wow...that is one scary woman!
January 15, 2009
3:18 p.m.
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Scott writes:
Gad! I thought that when Rebecca was knocked up with our first kid and she threw a can through a window was bad!
Scott
January 15, 2009
3:18 p.m.
leavemealone writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:26 p.m.
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FRN4U writes:
now, now, leavemealone!
everyone needs a little loving.
January 15, 2009
3:28 p.m.
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temurlan writes:
"A firefighter told police when he arrived, he found a woman wiping a counter with a rag as the victim lay nearby."
Always try to have a clean house if you are expecting several guests.
January 15, 2009
3:29 p.m.
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bookworm writes:
Where is the editing and proofreading in this story?
"She denied any involvement in his dead."
"The Martin opened the door and walked out,"
January 15, 2009
3:30 p.m.
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Willy writes:
Whenever my wife cooks, I about die - laughing.
January 15, 2009
3:30 p.m.
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PaleoConservative writes:
"She denied any involvement in his dead."
Spell check is a poor substitute for a living, breathing editor, isn't it?
January 15, 2009
3:34 p.m.
awhite411 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:34 p.m.
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zivo24 writes:
Bookworm,
My thoughts exactly.
"Neighbor David "K. C." Douglas said Martin was upset between Thomas had gone to do laundry with Douglas "
Between?
January 15, 2009
3:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
God, so many typoes! Did they forget to hire a proof reader? Jeez!
*snaps, picks up a sharpined #2 pencil and charges at the news staff of the RMN* DIIIIEEEEE!'
lol. Kidding. But seriousily, a pragnent mother and a knife are not joking matter. Thank heavans in the delivery room the doctors are wise enough to remove any sharp or blunt instraments.
I.
January 15, 2009
3:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
leavemealone writes:
FRN4U writes:
"now, now, leavemealone!
everyone needs a little loving."
LOL
I would take up the priesthood.
:-)
January 15, 2009
3:37 p.m.
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sheepherder writes:
That was tough to read...like it was written by a third grader! Budget cuts at the RMN?
January 15, 2009
3:40 p.m.
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280Pagoda writes:
Between the typos and the comments, I feel terrible for laughing this hard at such a tragedy - but....
January 15, 2009
3:42 p.m.
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lastdance writes:
My condolences to the family but this article is so poorly constructed it's almost worthless. No way a professional put this together, I can barley understand this non-sense.
January 15, 2009
3:45 p.m.
awhite411 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
temurlan writes:
If I had to stare at that picture while I was typing up the story, I would have lots of typos too.
Of course, maybe he wrote it on his new Blackberry Storm while walking down the street. Takes a couple of weeks to get used to that new keyboard.
January 15, 2009
3:46 p.m.
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jayce writes:
I have to agree with lastdance. Where are the editors? A 3rd grader could've written a better article.
January 15, 2009
3:47 p.m.
awhite411 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
awhite411,
During the delivery of our first I got a backhanded fist in the gut!
To this day I haven't let Rebecca live that one down. However, when I bring it up I make sure that she does not have anything that could be used as a weapon in close proximity. :-)
Scott
January 15, 2009
3:52 p.m.
FRN4U writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:54 p.m.
Buckwheat writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
3:59 p.m.
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Theboys writes:
Wow!
January 15, 2009
4:01 p.m.
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INC writes:
It was all Hormonal, Don't cha know. she will get a slap on the wrist.
The Murder charges are just a formality.
(if he were still alive) He would have been the one to go to Jail. He would have had to do a year of DV anger management training. spend thousands of dollars on sensitivity training... etc etc.
I cant imagine why he would not want to spend every waking moment with her. let alone do laundry without her. (sarcasm)
January 15, 2009
4:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
sweetater writes:
Am I crazy or wasn't the first picture they had of this woman on Jan 10th was not the same woman unless she got a serious tan.
January 15, 2009
4:27 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Awhite,
LOL! ;) Any moron could see the intended mistypes. I'm surprised you were too stupid to realize that? Or are you trying to force some type of rebuttal? In any event I'm also not a professional who is paid to proof read material to catch errors prior to print.
Good thing? This is the Web and everything is capable of being corrected unlike traditional print.
God you’re so childish its astounding. By far the stupidest (dumberer?) commenter I’ve encountered here in a long while!
I.
P.S. Could you please proof read this for me as well? To quote an idiot I’ve recently encountered “idiot.”
January 15, 2009
4:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
FRN4U,
LOL.
I have to agree...........This beast is very ugly. I'm certain that she stabbed him while aiming for that ugly mug standing behind the mirror.
I.
January 15, 2009
4:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Pagen writes:
Isn't she lovely!! I can't imagine her being a crazed murderer...Not!
January 15, 2009
4:44 p.m.
NotUrFriend writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 15, 2009
4:56 p.m.
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sweetater writes:
Okay I was wrong it wasn't in the RMN but on fox31 they had the wrong picture.
January 15, 2009
4:59 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Sweet,
Was that picture on Fox31 more disturbing than the mug shot here?
Just wondering :)
Oh, and have a good weekend! While the weather lasts.
I.
January 15, 2009
5:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
HankReardon writes:
Sweetater,
So, does that mean that you are crazy? ;)
January 15, 2009
5:29 p.m.
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Vaildude writes:
I think she was on MATCH.COM last week...Man, Glad I didn't send a"flirt" message....I probably would have been OK with her cooking knowing she's a bit sensitive about her culinary skills!!
January 15, 2009
5:32 p.m.
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jjez writes:
Maybe they weren't typos. Maybe they were quoting verbatim?
January 15, 2009
5:37 p.m.
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tp2217 writes:
Obviously most people that make comments here think they are comedians. I suppose those comments removed were of the racial kind. Sad, very sad.....
January 15, 2009
5:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
Littleboyblue writes:
I'm prayin' for all y'all!! Many of you need to read Proverbs...there's one for each day of the month. Maybe if Ms. Martin had've been readin' she wouldn't have been killn'!!
January 15, 2009
6:01 p.m.
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broncodude writes:
(This comment was NOT removed by the site staff.)
haha!
January 15, 2009
6:20 p.m.
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gs writes:
Gee, we made it to the 9th before wasting anybody? Better than the year before.
January 15, 2009
6:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
LS writes:
You all keep getting better and better with these comments and the twisted turns they take. NotUrFriend at 4:44 has me in total hysterics! Will miss reading the comments when RMN goes t!ts up (hoping they don't really!).
January 15, 2009
6:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
windskull writes:
Sad, but anyone that prone to violence should have topped Bob Barkers list to be fixed before unleashing youngsters baring these traits into society & Scott seriously consider putting Rebecca on stress tabs dude!
January 15, 2009
7:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Wonder what she does if you forget to do the dishes.
Well now she will have plenty of time to do laundry in the prison setting she will soon call home.
January 15, 2009
9:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
NotUrFriend writes: "God, so many typoes! Did they forget to hire a proof reader? Jeez! *snaps, picks up a sharpined #2 pencil and charges at the news staff of the RMN* DIIIIEEEEE!' lol. Kidding. But seriousily, a pragnent mother and a knife are not joking matter. Thank heavans in the delivery room the doctors are wise enough to remove any sharp or blunt instraments."
Dude, I REALLY hope this was sarcasm, because you have more "typoes" in your comment than the story itself.
Spelling flames almost ALWAYS have spelling errors themselves.
January 16, 2009
2:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
LadyBird112 writes:
NotUrFriend, you made my day with that stunning example of RMN-style writing, and it was definitely a terrible day so thank you.
Don't worry, AC, he was definitely being sarkastik about the typoes. Spelling flames do almost always have spelling errors themselves to make a poynt.
January 16, 2009
4:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
gwats writes:
This is what happens to when you play with snakes and run with scissors. This woman was obviously not all there mentally long before she became pregnant. I'm waiting to see how her court appointed attorney spins this.
January 16, 2009
7:54 a.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Tragic for the baby and other child, although I wouldn't be surprised if this woman wasn't abusive and dangerous before she was pregnant. It's true being pregnant makes many of us nuts - I can attest to that - but certainly only rarely to this extent.
I wonder if she had a history of abusing her partner and other child.
January 16, 2009
8:28 a.m.
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riverrafter writes:
I am just hoping this is a really, really, really bad picture.
January 16, 2009
9:16 a.m.
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Sundog writes:
Why is it important to know that the knife was maroon?
(This comment was not removed by the site staff.)
January 16, 2009
9:30 a.m.
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sweetater writes:
Hank,
Yes I am crazy !!! Inherited it from the kids!! ;).
Not ur friend. I am sure the person that fox 31 was more disturbed when they put the wrong picture up. I really don't judge a mugshot being I know they don't hire Olan Mills to take them.I am really quite intersedted to see how this case plays out.
January 16, 2009
9:43 a.m.
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toocool writes:
This is what happens when you fail to strain the spaghetti...
January 16, 2009
9:43 a.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
LadyBird,
Life's to short and stressful to not let yourself chuckle at silly grammer errors every so often. Glad I brightened your day!
The fun spot of my day was my dog trying to stuff her own tail down her throat. Honestly! Once she looses that booty its over for her! ;)
I.
January 16, 2009
11:29 a.m.
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stumanchu writes:
I thought I said " easy on the habanero " !
January 16, 2009
11:35 a.m.
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stumanchu writes:
Having your comment removed by site staff is not an honor. One of mine was removed by accident since there was nothing wrong with it, or so I thought.
January 16, 2009
12:34 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Stumanchu,
There are reasons why I decided to remove your comments. I could name five right now, but I will not.
Accept my god like power mortal!
LOL
I.
** Advisory ** NotUrFriend is not a RMN Staff or forum superviser rather, he is merely a God like being.
January 16, 2009
12:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
TheCaptain writes:
Hey Alan:
When you’re getting your resume together for your next job I would highly recommend NOT submitting this article in your portfolio of works. This is absolutely shoddy and atrocious writing. My God, are they teaching anything in journalism school, or are Papers just hiring anybody with a pulse these days? Stick to blogging on MySpace man, at least you’ll be on the same level as the12 and 13 year olds who read it.
January 16, 2009
2:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
02Charles02 writes:
The fight was over laundry and cooking. These are pretty mundane tasks that women have been doing for a long time. And this person still can't figure it out.
Well she does know how to have more babies and apparently how to wipe the counter. I guess when all the responsibilities of a homemaker become too much, its time to kill your illegitimate baby's daddy.
But this is the public school system's fault right?
January 16, 2009
3:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
truth22 writes:
This could be the worst case of reporting and putting it to print ever!! No wonder the "Rocky" is going down.
January 16, 2009
4:34 p.m.
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LS writes:
NotUrFriend. Well I still think the comment @ 4:44 - that RMN apparently deemed inappropriate - was the funniest thing I'd seen in awhile.
(This comment was not removed by the site staff. Or at least not yet.)
January 16, 2009
5:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
LS,
Thank you. I thought it was rather funny myself! I mean just look at that face! She's got a gapped tooth and a mean overbite! A bit of Petro Jelly and I'd swear she was rabid!!!
I didn't realize they removed it. Honestly!
I.
January 16, 2009
5:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
LS,
Everyone else (males I mean!):
That face is certainly an erec......I mean, it has the power to 'deflate' all our balloons. Talk about a party killer(literally!).
I.
January 16, 2009
5:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
LS writes:
NUF, I was showing your comment to my spouse and *poof* the censors had removed it. Someone at RMN is having a bad day. But, to be fair, I guess if I were looking at standing in the unemployment line soon, I wouldn't be seeing much humor at the moment either. ;-)
They didn't pick the best picture of the woman. You gotta know they used that awful picture to punctuate the story, rather than just bag it and go without.
Anywhoooo, keep up the good work!
January 16, 2009
5:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
LS writes:
HA! Yes!