Krista Roxanne Martin

Status:

Solved

Jurisdiction:

Wichita, Kansas

Offense Location:

Wichita, KS

Case Disposition:

On 10/02/23, the Wichita Police Department (Kansas) conducted a press release identifying Paul Hart as the person responsible for the murder of Krista Martin. Prior to be identifed as the suspect, Hart was killed in a traffic collision in Memphis, Tennessee in March of 1999. During the investigation, police had developed a DNA profile that was not matched until 34 years later with the help of genetic geneology. WPD teamed up with the FBI and private lab Othram to identify Hart as the suspect. The facts were presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office who determined that charges would be filed against Hart if he was alive. In 2022, Martin's friend MaryAnne McCullough started a podcast to help bring attention to the cold case.

Summary:

Krista Martin grew up in Haysville, Kansas living on S. Twin Pines & graduated from Campus High School in 1987. In September of 1989, police were called to Krista’s apartment at 506 S Osage. A neighbor reported hearing screaming and yelling across the street, likely a fight. When she glanced out of her window sometime between 3:00-4:00 am, she saw two men outside of Krista’s apartment. According to this neighbor, one of the men asked “why did you have to hit her?”, and the other responded “because she’s a woman and deserved it”. Two weeks later, Krista’s body was found on October 2, 1989. Toto’ the Saturday prior to her murder. Krista was last seen on the afternoon of Sunday, October 1, 1989. At around 1:00 am on October 2, 1989, her body was found in her apartment by a friend who had grown worried and visited to check on her. Krista was lying on her couch fully clothed. A CrimeStoppers speacial from 2009 stated she had been beaten & sexually assaulted. Retracing her steps she had been at the local club ToTo’s that Saturday night prior to her murder. Krista was known to hang out with a select group of friends. Her social circle was small & generally always the same. It was that social group she was with that Saturday. There were no signs of forced entry in the apartment and no signs of burglary. The man who found Krista’s body was quickly questioned by authorities. He explained that he wasn’t sure what made him concerned to the point that he felt the need to go check on Krista. He is later ruled out as a suspect in Krista’s murder. Krista’s autopsy revealed that she had been killed by a blow to the back left side of her head with some kind of blunt object. Authorities are unsure what kind of object was used in her murder and did not find any weapons in her apartment. Where the case stands today. Today, it has been more than 33 years since Krista’s life was taken away from her. There has been very little media attention for Krista’s case, though authorities continue waiting for new leads. If you have any information, please contact the Wichita Police Department Cold Case Unit at (316) 268-4379 or (316)-268-4609 or send your information in an email to coldcase@wichita.gov.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

Krista Martin was a victim of possible DV 2 weeks prior to her murder. A neighbor had phoned WPD when screams & fighting was heard. As outlined in summary above. We have not been able to obtain reports of any are available of police call to her home that night. If individuals were arrested. Or if any further follow up was done. We do know that there were two men involved per the neighbor.

Additional Details:

Family was forthcoming until 2009 however even at that point they performed all interviews without names or faces shown. I’ve grown up with Krista & family. I have reached out for any additional pictures or statements without replies. Local police have not responded to any questions, FOIA’s or any requests. I’ve posted requests for friends that were at ToTo’s with her to come forward with no response. A neighbor of Krista’s attempted to murder the landlord of the housing unit 6 months after her murder & led police on a chase through multiple cities. He is now in prison in Cape Girardeau Missouri for sexual assault of a minor & attempt murder.

Case Last Updated:

Jan 14, 2024