Today Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest announced that following a two day trial, Bruce Douglas Martin, Jr. of Brookhaven was convicted by a Madison County Jury of Second Degree Murder.
Martin was sentenced to serve 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
In April 2016, the Ridgeland Police Department was called to Bridgeford Boulevard due to a domestic dispute. When law enforcement arrived, they saw a trail of blood leading from the entrance of the home to the master bedroom. Officers found the victim lying on the floor of the bedroom and rendered aid to the victim until paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to the hospital and later died as a result of the injuries inflicted by Martin.
Sandra Kay Patrick, the fiancé of the victim, told officers that her son and soon-to-be husband had been drinking and got into an argument and started fighting. She advised that her son assaulted the victim and fled on foot. Officers began canvasing the area and several hours later saw Martin walking on County Line Road near the Woodlands area. He was arrested and was transported to the Ridgeland Police Department.
Martin was advised of his rights and agreed to speak with investigators. He told officers that he and the victim had gotten into an argument earlier in the evening. Martin said he left the residence and went to Kathryn’s Restaurant, where he had several drinks before returning to the home. After he returned to the residence the argument continued and turned into a physical altercation. Martin admitted to police that he had assaulted the victim but denied that he intended to kill the victim.
An autopsy of the victim determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
“This is a senseless crime that was driven by alcohol abuse. Martin was a man who was known to the community as someone who often drank too much and who would become violent when drinking,” said Guest. “His inability to control his emotions resulted in the man who was soon to marry his mother losing his life over an argument that began over a trivial issue.”
He added that the Ridgeland Police Department did an outstanding job.
“The hard work of law enforcement from the time they arrived at the residence until the investigation was completed, provided my office the evidence needed to convince a jury that Martin should be held accountable for his actions,” said Guest.
