Overview
- Cynthia “Cyndy” Martin pleaded guilty and was sentenced under a plea deal to 364 days in jail, five years of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, fines, and required assessments.
- The judge imposed an unusual probation condition that requires Martin to return to jail each July 3 during her five-year probation, a period that runs overnight into July 5.
- Prosecutors say Martin struck 19-year-old Carter Haithcock on Highway 169 near Nashwauk on July 3, 2024, and left the scene; the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office found he died of extensive blunt-force injuries.
- Investigators tied Martin’s SUV to the collision using surveillance video and physical evidence, including front-end damage, a nonworking passenger headlight, cracked windshield and fabric on the hood that matched the victim’s sweatshirt.
- Martin’s lawyers submitted dozens of character letters from local Democrats and community leaders describing years of volunteer work, a factor cited at sentencing that has prompted debate about how public service should affect criminal penalties.