• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

West Virginia man accused of kidnapping and ‘burning’ woman with torch

Sammy Martz was taken into custody on Tuesday and is being held without bond

Sammy Martz

Sammy Martz (West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

January 26, 2023
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – A West Virginia man was taken into custody and charged after he reportedly held a woman against her will and severely injured her by “striking her and burning her with a torch” multiple times, according to reports.

Officers with the Philippi Police Department were dispatched to a residence regarding a domestic disturbance on Tuesday, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WBOY.

Upon arrival, officers located a woman hiding beneath the porch of a West Virginia home. She told police that Sammy Martz, 47, “had hit her in the face.” Officers noted “her eye was swollen shut,” according to the report.

Furthermore, the female victim told police that she “escaped the residence via the rear window and ran from the residence to hide” after Martz “threatened to kill her and had burnt her with a torch on her stomach and her leg,” the complaint read, according to the news outlet.

As the woman was being treated by EMS, she told officers that Martz remained inside the residence and was in possession of a gun. As a result, Philippi officers along with deputies from the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department and troopers with the West Virginia State Police “converged on the residence.”

When law enforcement personnel entered the home, they announced their presence and Martz peacefully surrendered, WBOY reported. 

During an interview, Martz admitted he “did harm the victim…by striking her and burning her with a torch on at least three occasions,” according to police.

The woman was transported to Broaddus Hospital where investigators interviewed her further. “She was trying to leave early in the morning,” but said Martz wouldn’t let her go for a “4-5 hour period,” according to police, Yahoo News reported.

As Martz held the victim against her will for several hours, he reportedly tortured “her by striking her all over her body, sitting on her and burning her with a butane torch,” police said, according to the complaint.

Martz is being held without bond at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a charge of kidnapping.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: PhilippiPhilippi Police DepartmentSammy Martzwest virginia
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Wisconsin officer critical

Two police officers saved by off-duty nurse with NARCAN

September 30, 2022

Man charged after sister awakened from coma, dies in custody

July 23, 2022
Wanda Palmer

West Virginia woman comes out of 2-year coma and names brother as her attacker

July 17, 2022
West Virginia

West Virginia shooting leaves one deputy and suspect dead, second deputy wounded

June 4, 2022
Dennis Butler

Woman fatally shoots man who opened fire on dozens of people attending party

May 28, 2022
Tori Yorgey

Reporter struck by car during live TV broadcast

January 20, 2022
Load More

Latest Articles

suspected terrorists

Arrests of suspected terrorists at border on pace to shatter record

March 19, 2023
Newborn baby

5 kids killed in fiery single-vehicle crash with 16-year-old behind the wheel

March 19, 2023
March Madness

March Madness isn’t Just for Basketball

March 19, 2023
James McIntyre

Man arrested over disturbing graffiti at historic black Atlanta church

March 19, 2023
Tajze Mullins

Chicago man charged with attempted murder after running over police officer

March 19, 2023
Maliq McCullough

VIDEO: Carjacking suspects crash into school bus full of children while fleeing police

March 19, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com