David Deval Martin, a 40-year-old resident of McIntosh County, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 murder of a woman from Checotah. This marks the second time Martin has received a life sentence for this crime.
Martin was initially convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole by a state jury in 2016. However, that conviction was vacated following the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which determined that certain crimes involving Native Americans on tribal land fall under federal jurisdiction. Because Martin is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation, he was retried in federal court. In October 2024, a federal jury found him guilty of Murder in Indian Country.
Court documents show that on November 7, 2013, Martin beat and stabbed his former girlfriend, causing more than 109 injuries to her head and neck. The medical examiner testified that it likely took between 20 and 30 minutes or longer to inflict these wounds and that the victim remained alive and possibly conscious during much of the attack. Witnesses reported seeing Martin threaten the victim earlier that day at a convenience store.
Investigators found Martin’s DNA mixed with the victim’s blood at the scene, as well as his fingerprint on a metal rod used in the assault. His DNA was also recovered from the steering wheel of the victim’s abandoned car.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“The defendant in this case brutally murdered his victim in cold blood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “By retrying the case and securing a life sentence for the Defendant, the Department of Justice has demonstrated our commitment to seeking justice for the victims of violent crime in Indian Country.”
United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma stated: “The defendant’s heinous crime was deserving of the life sentence imposed by the Court. I am grateful for the thorough work of investigators and the skilled presentation of evidence by colleagues from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. Their collective efforts were vital in securing justice for the victim’s family.”
FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater commented: “Thanks to the work of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), U.S. Attorney’s Office, and FBI Oklahoma City, this depraved and merciless killer has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in federal prison. Today’s sentencing underscores FBI’s dedication to working with our partners and achieving justice for victims of violent crimes in Indian Country.”
Hunter McKee from OSBI added: “The OSBI appreciates great work conducted by our law enforcement partners throughout this investigation. Obtaining justice for victim and their family is crucial for all agencies involved. We are thankful for everyone’s dedication and commitment.”
Martin will remain under custody pending transfer to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility where he will serve his sentence without possibility of parole.
Trial Attorneys Jared A. Hernandez and Brian W. Lynch represented prosecutors from DOJ’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS). This case is noted as being part of VCRS’s partnership with Eastern District prosecutors following McGirt v. Oklahoma to handle major crimes committed on tribal lands.
