Community Mourns Suburban Couple Stabbed to Death in Their Home

Dozens of mourners gathered at Wheeling High School Wednesday night to honor the lives of a couple slain in their home last week. 

Anne P. Martin, 71, and David G. Martin, 72, were found in their Arlington Heights home on June 8 after police officers were dispatched to the residence for a well-being check, and as the shock of their death continues to reverberate, the community gathered to pay their respects at a candlelight vigil Wednesday. 

"She was such a great teacher," former student Kari Webber said of Anne Martin. "She was always there. She always helped me." 

Martin was praised for her "heart of gold" by mourners at the school, where she served as a substitute teacher in the final years of her life. 

A funeral mass is set for Saturday in Arlington Heights. 

Meanwhile, the couple's daughter, 43-year-old Deborah J. Martin, faces two counts of murder in their death, according to Arlington Heights police. 

At 12:32 a.m. on June 8, officers responded to a call of a well being check in the first block of South Derbyshire Lane, police said. First responders forced their way into the home after they saw an unresponsive woman “with obvious signs of violence” on the kitchen floor.

Anne and David Martin were found in the home with traumatic injuries and “without any signs of life,” police said.

Paramedics pronounced the pair on the scene, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy found Anne Martin died from multiple sharp force injuries and David Martin from multiple stab wounds. Their deaths were ruled as homicides.

While authorities attended to the couple, Deborah Martin allegedly came down the stairs from the second floor and confronted the officers, police said. She was arrested and taken to a police station for questioning.

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office approved charges after an extensive investigation which included forensic evidence, many interviews, a review of dispatch audio and physical evidence, police said.

Deborah Martin is scheduled to appear at a bond hearing on Monday.