Missing Since: 2007-08-06 Location: Normangee, Texas
Martin was last seen in the 2900 block of Springfield Road in his hometown of Normangee, Texas on August 6, 2007. He was with a group of people at the time, and another individual was driving his silver Honda Accord. He has never been heard from again. Two days later, Martin’s car was found abandoned and burned in Normangee, Texas. There was no sign of him at the scene. Although his family had attempted to report him missing on August 10, the police refused to accept the report until August 15, a full week after Martin was last seen. Martin frequented the Houston, Texas area before he went missing. Investigators have had numerous tips that he was murdered and his body disposed of in a rural area in Leon, Madison or Brazos County, Texas. In October 2020, Hollis Lane Willingham was arrested and charged with murder in his case. A photo of Willingham is posted with this case summary. The motive for the crime was reportedly a $150 debt Martin owed Willingham and hadn’t repaid. Martin wasn’t the only person Willingham violently attacked that day: according to witnesses, after Martin’s murder, when Willingham drove his car to a storage facility, he deliberately ran over a woman he saw there. She survived the incident and reported the hit-and-run to police. In April 2022, after trial lasting a week and a half, Willingham was convicted of capital murder in Martin’s case. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved. Investigating Agency Madison County Sheriff’s Office 936-348-2755 Source Information Texas Department of Public Safety The Madisonville Meteor KBTX-TV Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team The Dallas Voice KWTX 10 Fox 44 News The Athens Daily Review Updated 5 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated October 29, 2024; details of disappearance updated.