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Ex-girlfriend of suspected serial killer testifies that he admitted to killing Hazel Park woman

Posted at 6:03 PM, Aug 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-13 18:03:27-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — On Thursday, Deangelo Martin's ex-girlfriend testified that he told her he killed Nancy Harrison by hitting her with a two-by-four. And Martin's ex says she knew the piece of lumber he was referring to because she used it herself for protection when she lived in the now vacant house on Coventry Street where Harrison's body was found in March of 2019.

Martin's ex-girlfriend also testified that he would force himself on her and choke her whenever he wasn't able to have his way with her.

Martin, who is accused of being a serial killer, has been charged with murdering four women, including Annetta Nelson whose body was found in a vacant house by a man on Winthrop Street near Plymouth Road in February 2018. That man was seen dragging Nelson's body out of the house and while he was the first person to be charged with her strangulation murder, the case against him was dismissed when investigators say the results of DNA tests linked Martin to the killing.

During Thursday's preliminary examinations in all four cases of murder, prosecutors detailed DNA evidence they say links Martin to all of the victims.

In the case of Trevesene Ellis and Tammy Jones, prosecutors said their bodies were too decomposed for the medical examiner to determine cause of deaths, but that blunt force trauma could not be ruled out in the death of Trevesene Ellis and strangulation could not be ruled out in the death of Tammy Jones.

In each of the four cases, Martin has been charged with First Degree Premeditated Murder and Felony Murder with the underlying felony of 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct.

"We are confident that this defendant’s alleged criminal and predatory actions link him to all four of these homicides, as well as the two sexual assault cases that we charged him with previously," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "The details will be presented in court, and we will continue to pursue any and all evidence that may connect him to further crimes."

After listening to evidence and testimony presented during the preliminary examinations, 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King ordered Deangelo Martin to stand trial on all four cases.

Martin remains in custody and is set to appear back in court via Zoom next month.