Dateline: Unforgettable is re-examining the murders of Edward Dansereau and Calvin and Pamela Phillips, a married couple, who were all shot dead by their neighbor Christian “Kit” Martin in the small town of Pembroke, Kentucky, in 2015.
The murders committed by an American Airlines pilot with a military career spanning 30 years shocked the community. Martin was arrested at Louisville Airport in 2019 as he was preparing to fly a plane. The killer was dramatically hauled off and booked into Christian County jail while still in his pilot’s uniform.
On November 18, 2015, Martin shot dead 59-year-old Calvin Phillips and his 58-year-old wife, Pamela Phillips. The couple had lived across the street from Martin. The killer also murdered another neighbor, Edward Dansereau.
The bodies of Pamela and Dansereau were found in a smoldering car in a farmer’s field. The farmer had heard gunshots in the early hours of the morning. The two victims had been shot multiple times with a .22 caliber firearm.
The police initially couldn’t identify the bodies, but they traced the car to the Phillips family home, where they found Calvin’s remains in the cellar. He, too, had been shot, and the killer had attempted to start a fire.
The cops later learned that Calvin was due to testify against Martin at a military court-martial trial. When Martin’s marriage with his wife, Joan Harmon, broke down, the Phillips couple helped her move out.
Calvin Phillips reported Christian Martin to the FBI and military police
During the moving process, Calvin found what appeared to be classified military intelligence on Martin’s laptop and computer discs. He gave the items to the FBI.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelHarmon had also given Calvin pictures allegedly showing physical abuse Martin had inflicted on her and her young son. Calvin passed the pics to the military police.
After the murders, but before Martin’s later arrest, he was convicted in a military court on one count of mishandling classified information and one count of assault on a child. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and discharged from the military.
The Christian County detectives determined that Martin had a powerful motive to kill Calvin to prevent him from testifying and ruining his military career. The cops concluded that Pamela and Dansereau were collateral damage.
A few months after the murders, a shell casing was found at the Phillips home, which matched to a firearm in Martin’s safe. His dog tags were also found in the Phillips home. He was finally charged with the murders in 2019.
Christian ‘Kit’ Martin claimed he was framed for the murders
Martin’s legal team argued that his ex-wife, Joan Harmon, had framed their client. Just before their divorce, she was overheard telling him she would ruin his life and his career if he left her. The lawyers accused her of planting the shell casing at the Phillips home.
However, in 2023, a jury found Martin guilty of triple homicide, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Dateline: Unforgettable airs at 8/7c on Oxygen.