Netflix’s A Deadly American Marriage: What really happened to Jason Corbett’s first wife Mags?

With A Deadly American Marriage currently sitting at the top of Netflix charts, there’s renewed attention on the heartbreaking story of Jason Corbett — the Irish father who was killed in 2015 by his second wife, Molly Martens, and her father, Thomas Martens. The documentary explores the years leading up to his death, the controversial legal case that followed, and the impact it had on both families.

But one name keeps coming up in the Netflix doc is Mags.

So, who exactly was Mags Fitzpatrick?

via Netflix

Margaret “Mags” Fitzpatrick was from Limerick, Ireland. She met Jason through a mutual friend on a night out, and they clicked straight away. Her best friend Lynn described the connection as instant, saying they were “just meant for each other.” They married in Ireland on June 28, 2003. Mags and Jason went on to have two children together, Jack, born in 2004, and Sarah, born in September 2006. Jason’s sister Tracey Corbett Lynch described Mags in the documentary as someone who brought out a romantic and soft side in Jason that no one had seen before.

Well, what was Mags and Jason’s relationship like?

via Netflix

Their relationship was seen by family and friends as happy and loving. The couple were settling into life as new parents and had just welcomed their second child when tragedy struck.

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Tracey recalled how the couple felt complete as a family, saying in a 2020 episode of 48 Hours, “They had their little prince and princess.”

Photos and family accounts from that time describe a close, supportive partnership. Jason’s family has spoken publicly about how much he adored Mags and how devastated he was by her sudden death.

So, what exactly happened to her?

via Netflix

In November 2006, Mags died suddenly at age 30 from an asthma-related cardiorespiratory arrest. She had a lifelong history of asthma. As confirmed by her family, Mags became unwell during the night, using both her inhalers and nebuliser as her condition worsened. Jason, with her sister Catherine also present, called an ambulance and drove to meet it. Mags died en route to the hospital.

Her death wasn’t considered suspicious at the time. But during Molly and Thomas Martens’ sentencing in 2023, questions were raised. A retired forensic pathologist testified it was “possible”, though “nowhere close to probable”, that Mags could have died by other means. The Netflix documentary also included a claim from attorney Doug Kingsbery that one of Molly’s friends said she feared Jason had harmed Mags.

Thomas Martens alleged that Mags’ father once shared this suspicion, a claim her family has firmly denied.

In a statement reported by RTE, Mags’ family said she died of a severe asthma attack. They also said that both, Catherine and Jason, did everything they could to help. “He did everything he could to save the person he absolutely adored,” they wrote.

The statement was signed by Mags’ mother and siblings. Her father died in 2016.

A Deadly American Marriage is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.