Woman's obsession with ex-boyfriend led to assault that ended in Shirley killing, prosecutors say

A Central Islip woman’s obsession with a former boyfriend led her to plan out the violent gang assault that ultimately caused his death last month, a prosecutor said at an arraignment Wednesday in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead.

Melissa Fawcett, 50, of Central Islip, and Korey Sammarco, 36, of Shirley, both pleaded not guilty to second-degree intentional murder in the killing of 48-year-old Christopher Martin in Shirley on June 14. Co-defendant Benjamin Sheppard, 33, of Central Islip, is expected to be arraigned Thursday. The trio also is charged with gang assault for the violent attack inside the Hounslow Road house where Martin rented a room and Sammarco also had been living.

"They viciously beat this victim," Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty told State Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro at Wednesday’s arraignment. "He’s hit in the face with a television. He’s hit repeatedly in the eye and the head with a dumbbell ... and ultimately succumbs to his injuries."

Defense attorney Eric Besso, of Sayville, who was appointed to represent Fawcett, said his client disputes the narrative that she was a scorned ex-lover looking for revenge. He said Martin never broke up with his client and the couple was still in an active relationship.

"She’s never been involved in a crime ... and she denies planning an assault," Besso said, describing Fawcett a mother of four and a grandmother.

Shetty said Martin had rejected Fawcett as she showed up at his home with gifts in an attempt to resurrect their relationship. When she arrived the day before the attack, he and other residents of the house stopped her from entering.

"She, our investigation revealed, is actually the individual who set this entire event up," Shetty said.

Before the attack, Fawcett purchased a gun she intended to use to scare Martin, the prosecutor said.

Neighboring Ring camera footage showed the three defendants arrived in two cars at the home, where Sammarco kicked in the locked door to Martin’s room before they began beating him, prosecutors said.

Shetty said Martin suffered severe facial trauma, broken ribs, a liver laceration and abdominal bleeding from the attack. The trio also used a sledgehammer to beat Martin, prosecutors have said.

Sammarco admitted the killing in "an hourslong confession" to police, Shetty alleged. He was a former housemate of Martin's who also visited the property the day before, with an arranged police escort, to retrieve his personal belongings.

Despite the alleged admissions, Sammarco’s court-appointed defense attorney, John Halverson, of Patchogue, entered a not-guilty plea and reserved his right to make a bail argument at a later date, once he’s reviewed the prosecution’s evidence.

Ambro remanded Fawcett and Sammarco to the Suffolk County jail without bail.

They are facing up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Both are due back in court on Aug. 6.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.