Husband charged with first-degree murder in Coralville scientist’s stabbing

People reports that James Fuller Martin, 47, was charged with first-degree murder after police say he admitted to repeatedly stabbing his wife, 41-year-old Amber Nicole Martin, at their Coralville, Iowa, home on Friday, Jan. 16.

Coralville police responded early that morning to a report of a stabbing; officers found the victim with stab wounds and, despite medical aid, she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Muddy River News. The Coralville Police Department identified Amber Nicole Martin on Jan. 19 as a medical laboratory scientist supervisor of microbiology at University of Iowa Health Care, per The Gazette. A criminal complaint cited by Muddy River News alleges James formulated a plan, retrieved a kitchen knife and surprised the victim as she exited another room, stabbing her multiple times at around 6:40 a.m., and that he admitted to the killing.

Amber's supervisor, Connie Floerchinger, said Amber was "a very good leader" who loved her job and team, and a former coworker at Quincy Medical Group told Muddy River News the couple "seemed to be such a close and loving couple." An investigation is underway; the Coralville Police Department, University of Iowa Health Care and Quincy Medical Group were contacted for comment. If you are experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.

Key Topics

World, James Fuller Martin, Amber Nicole Martin, Coralville Iowa, Quincy Medical Group