by Patrick H. Moore
The ancient city of Boston in general — and the Boston sporting world in particular — has suffered a number of body blows over past several months beginning with the Boston Marathon bombing. Then came former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez being accused of murdering 27-year-old semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. And now what may be the knockout punch: On Thursday Jared Remy, a 34-year-old bodybuilding, steroid-taking, tatooed Neanderthal , and the son of Boston Red Sox announcer and former second basemen, Jerry Remy, killed and apparently murdered his lovely girlfriend, 27-year-old Jennifer Martin, leaving her 4-year-old child a ward of the state.
Colneth Smiley Jr. of the Boston Herald spoke with Jennifer’s grieving family members:
Jennifer Martel’s grief-stricken family today described her as a warm and loving young woman who was in an increasingly dangerous, controlling relationship with Jared Remy, the man now charged with stabbing her to death.
“She had so much to look forward to in her life,” Jennifer Martel’s mother, Patty Martel, 53. “In the last few years my daughter wasn’t happy. He would do anything and everything to keep them away from us. He had an obsession with her and would do everything to keep her away from us. It go worse in the last few months but she never told me it was to the point where it was this.”
Patty Martel described her daughter, as a hard-working young woman who loved children, dreamed of becoming a teacher, and was “an excellent, loving mother” to her daughter Arianna. A cashier, she had recently enrolled in Bridgewater State to earn her teaching degree.
Patty Martel stated that Jennifer met Remy six years ago at a 4th of July weekend party.
In describing Jared Remy, Patty Martel pulled no punches:
“I never liked him. I haven’t liked him in years. He had a rotten disposition.”
Both of Jennifer’s parents had long feared that the relationship could turn dangerous, a point address by Jennifer’s father, Brian Martel, 52:
“Many times we told her to get out. We offered to take her back. To get a Uhaul and have her come back with my son, his wife and my wife. She said no. It would hurt Jared too much. She didn’t want to take Arianna away from him. That’s my daughter. She puts other people first and look where it got her.”
Jennifer Martel had recently broken off her engagement with Remy, and her parents were especially alarmed during a recent visit. Patty Martel described:
“He became obsessed. He called her phone five or six times when we were with her. If she called late, he would argue and say she was sleeping with someone else and call her bad names. … It’s kind of hard to like someone like that, but I respected my daughter, thinking you have to let people live and learn. I thought he loved her. But he had a sick obsession. I can’t believe he did this.”
Andrea Martel, 29, Jennifer Martel’s sister-in law, stated simply:
“Jared was an evil person, I know that first hand.”
Andrea stated that Jennifer “was planning her escape route. She didn’t specify. We kept on begging her to leave. She said ‘Don’t worry, don’t worry, I’m planning my escape route.’ ”
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How many times have we heard this before: “I’m planning my escape route.” Too many times. It’s a constant in crime fiction and unfortunately it also occurs all too often in real life. What I don’t understand is why in the world did Jennifer Martel, who based on both her photographs and her family’s description, was clearly a very attractive and apparently well-dispositioned young woman, get involved with this freakin’ Neanderthal in the first place. My god, according to his docket, Remy had been arrested around 13 times prior to assaulting Jennifer shortly before he killed her, and had twice been slapped with restraining orders.
I’m fully aware of the fact that “ladies love outlaws”, and certainly don’t object to that. Once upon a time, I was a bit of an outlaw myself. But his guy? Ugly as sin, scowling, frowning, I don’t get it. I hate to sound like an aggrieved John Stoessel but “gimme a break on this one.” Creepo Remy certainly didn’t give Jennifer one.
Click here for to view All Things Crime Blog’s posts on recent Boston sports world tragedies:
Boston Red Sox Announcer Jerry Remy’s Steroidal Son Pleads Not Guilty to Murdering Girlfriend
Aaron Hernandez’ Fiancee Believed to Have Dumped Odin Lloyd Murder Weapon: The Plot Thickens
Aaron Hernandez Bombshell: Filmed with Murder Weapon by His Own Surveillance Cameras
Aaron Hernandez Serial Killer Case Strengthens as Grand Jury Hears Evidence of 2012 Double Murder
Eat Your Heart Out Aaron Hernandez: D.A. Will Cut Deal to Deliver You Up on a Platter
Aaron Hernandez Arrested for Murder: Bill Belichick Drops Him Like a Hot Potato
Eat Your Heart Out, Bill Belichick: Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez Wanted in Murder Probe