LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Authorities arrested an American Airlines pilot Saturday morning in connection with the 2015 slayings of three people in Kentucky. Christian Richard Martin, 51, was arrested early Saturday at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport by authorities with the U.S. Marshall's Service, Christian County Sheriff's Office and Louisville Metro Police Department, according to Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear's office. Martin has been indicted by a Christian County grand jury on three counts of murder; one count of arson; one count of attempted arson, burglary in the first degree and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. Lanesha Gipson, a spokeswoman for American Airlines, said Martin has worked as a pilot for PSA Airlines, an American subsidiary, since January 2018. Martin has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, Gipson said. A criminal background check that all pilots undergo turned up no criminal history on Martin "that would disqualify him from being a commercial pilot," Gipson added. "All of us at American Airlines and PSA Airlines are deeply saddened to have learned about these allegations from 2015," Gipson said. "We have an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our customers and team members, and we will provide any investigative assistance possible to law enforcement throughout their investigation.” Martin's arrest came one day after a Christian County grand jury indicted him in the 2015 slayings of Calvin and Pamela Phillips and Edward Dansereau. Calvin Phillips was found shot to death Nov. 18, 2015, in his home in Pembroke. The bodies of his wife, Pamela Phillips, and the couple's neighbor, Dansereau, were found a few miles away in a corn field inside a burned car owned by Pamela Phillips. Beshear announced the indictment Saturday, nearly two years after he said he met with the couple's son, Matt, who was worried the case had stalled. After that meeting, Beshear accepted a request from the local commonwealth's attorney to appoint a special prosecutor from his office to handle the case. “I hope this is a day that brings some justice to these families,” Beshear said. “There are many steps from here, but we hope this is one example of when you never stop seeking justice, when you never give up, that we can truly get important results for these families.” According to Beshear's office, Martin moved out of Christian County after the alleged slayings and was living in North Carolina at the time of the indictment. The indictment had been sealed until Martin was arrested. According to Beshear's office, family members of the victims expressed an "overflowing of emotion, sincere relief, and absolute gratitude to all those who have worked diligently on this case.” "We look forward to justice in court, and we look forward to a verdict to bring an end to this terror, and a fresh start at healing," the family members of the victims said in a statement. The Christian County Sheriff's Office and Kentucky State Police also investigated the case. Martin will be returned to Christian County to await trial. Christian County Circuit Court Judge John Adkins has ordered Martin held without bond, according to court records. The Special Prosecutions Unit in Beshear's office will prosecute the case.<doc-sep>A pilot for an American Airlines subsidiary was arrested Saturday at the Louisville airport in connection to the 2015 killings of three people, Kentucky's attorney general said. Christian R. Martin, 51, was taken into custody at the Louisville International Airport a day after he was indicted by a grand jury in the November 2015 murders of Calvin and Pamela Phillips of Pembroke and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau, according to Attorney General Andy Beshear. "I hope this is a day that brings some justice to these families,” Beshear said in a statement. “There are many steps from here, but we hope this is one example of when you never stop seeking justice, when you never give up, that we can truly get important results for these families.” MAN WHO REPORTED MISSING HOUSTON GIRL ARRESTED IN HER DISAPPEARANCE, BLOOD DISCOVERED IN APARTMENT Police said that Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his Pembroke, Ky., home on Nov. 18, 2015. The bodies of Phillips’ wife, Pamela, and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau, were later discovered a few miles away in a cornfield inside her burned car. Authorities did not give a motive for the killings or said what led them to believe Martin was responsible. After the murders, officials said in a statement that Martin moved to Christian County, Ky., and was living in North Carolina at the time of the indictment. Martin was arrested at the Louisville airport by authorities from the United States Marshall’s Service, Christian County Sheriff’s Office and Louisville Metro Police, according to Beshear's office. Ashley Martin of Elizabethtown, Ky. -- who is not related to the suspect -- was at the airport with her mother, Frances Wise, when the pilot was taken into custody and described the situation as "very tense." "It was like something you would totally see in a movie," Martin told WDRB-TV. SUSPECT ARRESTED IN KILLING OF UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO BASEBALL PLAYER American Airlines said in a statement to Fox News that it is cooperating in the investigation, and that Martin has been a pilot for subsidiary PSA Airlines since January 2018. Martin's jail mugshot shows him wearing a pilot's uniform. “All of us at American Airlines and PSA Airlines are deeply saddened to have learned about these allegations from 2015," an American Airlines spokesperson told Fox News. "Our team was made aware of the indictment this morning after his arrest at Louisville International Airport. We have an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our customers and team members, and we will provide any investigative assistance possible to law enforcement throughout their investigation.” Martin has been placed on administrative suspension, pending the outcome of the investigation. The 51-year-old was being held without bond in the Christian County Detention Center on murder, arson and burglary charges along with tampering with physical evidence. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Beshear said he met nearly two years ago with the couple's son, Matt Phillips, who was worried the case had stalled. Beshear accepted a request from the local commonwealth attorney to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case. Relatives of Calvin and Pamela Phillips had offered a $100,000 reward to help solve the case. Family members said Saturday they had an “overflowing of emotion, sincere relief, and absolute gratitude to all those who have worked diligently on this case.” "Every day, we are haunted by what was done to them and haunted further that someone was still free to do as they wish, beyond the civility of mankind or laws of our nation,” the family members of the victims said in a statement. “We look forward to justice in court, and we look forward to a verdict to bring an end to this terror, and a fresh start at healing.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Christian Martin is facing several charges including murder and arson in connection with the deaths of a couple and their neighbor in Christian County. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A man indicted for the 2015 murders of three people in Christian County, Kentucky was arrested at the Louisville International Airport on Saturday morning. According to the Attorney General's Office, Christian Richard Martin was taken into custody with the help of the United States Marshall's Service, the Christian County Sheriff's Office, and Louisville Metro Police. Martin has been indicted on three counts of murder, one count of arson, and several other charges in connection with the brutal deaths of Calvin and Pamela Phillips and Edward Dansereau in November of 2015. According to police, Calvin Phillips was found shot to death in his home in Pembroke, KY and the bodies of Phillips' wife, Pamela, and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau, were found a few miles away in a cornfield in a car that had been set on fire. "Every day, we are haunted by what was done to them and haunted further that someone was still free to do as they wish, beyond the civility of mankind or laws of our nation," the family of the victims said in a statement. "We are overwhelmed with this positive step towards resolution for people we love dearly." Martin has worked as a pilot for PSA Airlines since January of 2018, according to the American Airlines Director of Operations Communications. He has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. Martin was subjected to a criminal background check, but no information was revealed that would disqualify him from being a commercial pilot. American Airlines released the following statement: “All of us at American Airlines and PSA Airlines are deeply saddened to have learned about these allegations from 2015. Our team was made aware of the indictment this morning after his arrest at Louisville International Airport. We have an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our customers and team members, and we will provide any investigative assistance possible to law enforcement throughout their investigation.” The Attorney General's Office said that Martin had moved from Kentucky to North Carolina after the murders. He will be returned to Christian County to await trial and a judge has ordered he be held without bond. Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.<doc-sep>
Advertisement American Airlines pilot arrested in Louisville for 2015 triple murder Share Shares Copy Link Copy An American Airlines pilot was arrested at the Louisville International Airport on Saturday in connection with a 2015 triple murder in Christian County. Christian Richard Martin was indicted Friday in the killings of Calvin Phillips, Pamela Phillips and Edward Dansereau in Pembroke, Kentucky.Calvin Phillips was found shot to death inside his home in November 2015. His wife, Pamela, and their neighbor, Dansereau, were found dead in a nearby cornfield inside a burned-up car.Officials said Martin left Christian County following the murders and was living in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the time of the indictment.The victims' family members released the following statement:"Nov. 18, 2015, Cal Phillips, Pam Phillips and Ed Dansereau were brutally extinguished—beyond recognition from family. Every day, we are haunted by what was done to them and haunted further that someone was still free to do as they wish, beyond the civility of mankind or laws of our nation. We are overwhelmed with this positive step towards resolution for people we love dearly; Cal and Pam Phillips and Ed Dansereau, and the hundreds of friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and others deeply affected by their brutal end. We look forward to justice in court, and we look forward to a verdict to bring an end to this terror, and a fresh start at healing. "A special prosecutor was assigned to the case after Attorney General Andy Beshear met with the family's son, Matt, who was concerned the case had stalled. "I hope this is a day that brings some justice to these families," Beshear said. "There are many steps from here, but we hope this is one example of when you never stop seeking justice, when you never give up, that we can truly get important results for these families. "A spokesperson with American Airlines released a statement regarding the arrest:“All of us at American Airlines and PSA Airlines are deeply saddened to have learned about these allegations from 2015. Our team was made aware of the indictment this morning after his arrest at Louisville International Airport. We have an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our customers and team members, and we will provide any investigative assistance possible to law enforcement throughout their investigation.”The spokesperson confirmed Martin had worked for PSA Airlines as a Bombardier CRJ First Officer since January 2018. He has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of the investigation, which includes the suspension of all travel privileges.Martin was charged with three counts of murder, arson, attempted arson, burglary and tampering with physical evidence. Martin was being held in the Christian County Detention Center without bond. He's scheduled to be arraigned May 22.