Boyfriend Murders Woman During FaceTime Call with Her Mother, Then Kills Her Friend

In a horrific double murder that stunned a Tennessee community, a man shot and killed his girlfriend while she was on a FaceTime call with her mother — then turned the gun on her friend moments later.

The tragedy unfolded on May 13, 2023, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Madison Johnson, 21, had been chatting with her mother via FaceTime when things suddenly took a dark turn. Her boyfriend, 28-year-old Jair Romario Martin, became angry and blocked the room’s exit. Madison’s mother, still on the call, helplessly watched as Martin opened fire, firing at least 10 shots and killing Madison instantly.

The chaos didn’t end there. Madison’s friend, 20-year-old Heidi Johnson (not related), tried to intervene. But she too was fatally shot by Martin. When police later found the scene, they discovered something even more disturbing — a carving fork had been lodged in Madison’s head, pointing to the brutality of the attack.

After the murders, Martin fled. In a bizarre twist, a local officer saw him walking calmly down the street later that day but didn’t realize what had just happened. It took several more days before Martin was finally arrested.

In court, Martin pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and several other charges. On June 19, 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Judge Scott Green didn’t mince words during sentencing. He called the murders “heinous, atrocious, and crude,” and pointed to Martin’s calculated violence and lack of remorse. The judge also referenced the disturbing use of the carving fork, describing the act as deeply depraved.

This tragedy shines a harsh spotlight on domestic violence, especially in relationships where signs of control and aggression go unnoticed until it’s too late. It also raises questions about how new forms of technology — like FaceTime — can now serve as horrifying windows into real-time violence.

For Madison’s mother, who saw her daughter’s final moments unfold live, the trauma is unimaginable. And for Heidi’s family, the loss is equally devastating.

The community continues to mourn two young lives lost far too soon — and many are left asking what more could have been done to prevent it.