Martha Beck

Background

Martha Beck was executed by electrocution at Sing Sing prison in New York on March 8, 1951. She was also known as part of a case referred to as the “Serial Killer Couple,” the “Honeymoon Killers,” and the “Lonely Hearts Killers.” They met their victims through lonely hearts ads.

Martha Beck died at the age of 31 and was executed in the Electric Chair at Sing-Sing Prison on the same day as her live-in lover, Raymond Fernandez, who was executed before her, following two other executions that day.

Martha Beck died survived by her mother, her ex-husband Alfred Beck, her two children Carmen-7 and Anthony-6, one brother, and three sisters. Her daughter was named Willa Dean and later became “Carmen.” Her son was named Anthony Beck.

The offence

Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for murders tied to their killing spree that began in New York and ended in Michigan. Their spree included the double murder of a young mother and her two-year-old child in Michigan, which led to their arrest and extradition to New York for trial for the murder there.

The narrative of killings described them following a pattern that involved deceiving victims and arranging meetings through lonely hearts ads. The victims and events described included:

• Janet Fay, 66: she became engaged to Fernandez and went to stay at his Long Island apartment; after Beck saw Fay and Fernandez in bed together, Beck smashed Fay’s head in with a hammer and Fernandez strangled her.
• Delphine Downing and her two-year-old daughter: they traveled to Byron Center Road in Wyoming Township, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids; Fernandez gave Downing sleeping pills; Beck strangled Downing, though not killing her; Fernandez shot Downing; Beck drowned Downing’s daughter in a basin of water; the bodies were buried in the basement and later reported missing by neighbors.
• Additional victims were referenced in the material as part of allegations attributed to them, including other women and marriages discussed in the narrative (including Myrtle Young and Esther Henne), though the final convictions described in the record focused on the three murders tried together.

Investigation

After their arrest, the narrative states they were brought to the Kent County D.A.’s office, where they were questioned by police and the District Attorney. The material states that they did not ask for an attorney or attempt to avoid questioning.

The material also states that they signed a 73-page confession in the presence of Kent County D.A. Roger O. McMahon, who assured them they would never be turned over to the New York police. It further states that they were aware there was no death penalty in Michigan and were content to remain in Kent County rather than be extradited back to New York to face charges for the Fay killing.

The confession described murders and related circumstances, including the use of a hammer, garroting using a scarf as a tourniquet around Janet Fay’s neck, and subsequent disposal steps described in the material. It also included that, when asked whether he shot and killed Delphine Downing, Fernandez said “That is true,” and when asked if he killed Janet Fay, he denied it.

Arrest

Beck and Fernandez were arrested on February 28, 1949. The arrest followed police arriving at their door after neighbors reported their disappearance.

The material describes that suspicious neighbors called the police, leading Fernandez to open the door to two stern-looking cops.

Trial

The trial of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez opened on June 28, 1949. It is described as having a “circus-like atmosphere.” The material describes that a change of venue was granted and that the trial moved to Bronx Supreme Court.

Judge Ferdinand Pecora sat on the bench. The prosecutor was Nassau County District Attorney Edward Robinson Jr.

The material states that Raymond Fernandez took the stand on July 11, 1949 and denied any role in the Fay killing. It states that he admitted confessing to the Michigan authorities but wished to retract his statement, saying he confessed only to save his sweetheart, Martha.

The material states that Martha Beck took the stand on the morning of July 25, 1949. It describes that she recited childhood problems and testified about family circumstances and suicide attempts, and that she claimed she knew Fernandez was a murderer and that she helped him find lonely women to victimize.

During trial testimony, the material includes specific verbatim statements from Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez attributed to them:

• Raymond Fernandez said: “I wanna shout it out; I love Martha! What do the public know about love?”
• Martha Beck said: “My story is a love story. But only those tortured by love can understand what I mean [...] Imprisonment in the Death House has only strengthened my feeling for Raymond....”
• During questioning, Martha Beck said: “I think at this time, your honor, I want to take the stand!”
• Martha Beck stated during her testimony: “We loved each other and I consider it absolutely sacred….You referred to the love making as abnormal but for the love I had for Fernandez, nothing is abnormal!”
• Martha Beck stated: “a request from Mr. Fernandez to me is a command. I loved him enough to do anything he asked me to!”
• In court after one exchange, Martha Beck said: “Mr. Fernandez is not deaf!”

The material also includes a quote attributed to Fernandez during interrogation:

• Fernandez said: “I’m no average killer,” to investigators.

Sentencing

The jury found Fernandez and Beck guilty of first-degree murder. There was no recommendation for mercy for either defendant.

On August 22, Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez stood impassively as Judge Pecora sentenced them both to die in the electric chair on October 10 of that year. The material also states that within the hour they were taken to Sing Sing prison.

Appeals

No appellate outcome is provided in the record text provided.

Outcome

Beck was executed by electrocution at Sing Sing prison in New York on March 8, 1951.

The material states that on March 8, her last morning, Martha ate “a good breakfast, ham, eggs and coffee and took a shower,” according to a Death Row log kept by Matron Evans. It also states she ate “Martha ate fair dinner. Laundry sent out, returned and checked,” and that she wrote a last angry letter that afternoon.

Her last meal was described as:

• “Fried chicken, no wings, French frys (sic), lettuce and tomato salad.”

Fernandez ordered an onion omelet, French fries, chocolate and a Cuban cigar.

The execution procedure described in the material states that two other convicts, John King, 22, and Richard Power, 22, from Queens, New York were taken from their cells and executed for the senseless murder of an airline clerk in 1950. After their deaths, Fernandez was taken to the death room and Martha was brought into the room on her own volition, escorted by matrons.

The material records verbatim statements from Fernandez and Martha in the death chamber:

• Fernandez said: “I want to shout it out. I love Martha!
• Martha formed the words “So long!” but no sound escaped her lips.
• Martha had this final statement for the press:

  “What does it matter who is to blame?”
  “My story is a love story, but only those tortured with love can understand what I mean. I was pictured as a fat unfeeling woman…I am not unfeeling, stupid or moronic…in the history of the world how many crimes have been attributed to love?”

Martha Beck was dead at 11:24 p.m. The material states it was the first quadruple execution since 1947 and names the executioner Joseph Francel of Cairo, New York, as paid $150 per person.

Other details

Martha Beck was assigned inmate number #108594 and Raymond Fernandez #108595 upon admission. The material states that they were asked routine questions on admission:

• Martha Beck replied: “Something I got into. I had no control,”
• Fernandez replied: “An accident.”

The material states that Martha was asked routine questions and that she and Fernandez were processed, immediately separated, and placed on Death Row.

The narrative states she was assigned the same cell previously used by murderess Ruth Snyder in 1927 and later occupied by the irrepressible Eva Coo in 1936. The cell consisted of a bunk, a sink and toilet.

The material states that Martha submitted a list of approved visitors that included her divorced husband Alfred Beck, her brother and three sisters, and also included her son Anthony (now 4) and her daughter Carmen (now 5) who she hadn’t seen since January 1948 when she abandoned them at the Salvation Army office in Manhattan.

The narrative states that in September 1950 there were rumors that Martha was having an ongoing sexual relationship with one of the guards, and that she wrote a letter to Warden Denno of Sing Sing responding to the rumors. It includes her quoted statements:

• “For several weeks I have suffered in silence because of the rumors started by Mr. Fernandez,”
• “To print that or say that I am having an affair with a guard is one of the most asinine and ridiculous statements ever made!”
• “Approximately 25 million persons heard Winchell’s broadcast tonight ─ including members of my own family. And I’ll admit it will be a shock and embarrassment to them.”

The material includes additional verbatim statements from Martha to her attorney Herbert Rosenberg:

• “What do they expect me to do?”
• “Sit here and let him destroy the one thread of decency I have left? He has done so much talking about how he has me wrapped around his little finger that it was a blow to his ego when I unwrapped myself and forgot about him…All I can say is: what a character!”

The material includes a verbatim statement attributed to Martha in a letter belittling Fernandez to her mother:

• “Oh yes, he’s brave when it comes to talk and hurting others ─ he can kill without batting an eyelash ─ but to hurt himself ─ he’d never do it. It takes a man to kill himself. Not a sniveling, low-down, double-crossing, lying rat like him!”

The material also provides a verbatim letter excerpt attributed to Fernandez on January 8, 1951:

• “Kisses and hugs to the children and you receive a million kisses and hugs from the one who always will have you until the last second of my life,”

And a quoted response attributed to Encarnacion about her husband Fernandez:

• “Do you prefer me to fly to you and spank you for not writing, just as if you were a little child? Kisses from the children. All my love to you, from your wife, Encarna.”

The material describes that witnesses for the Beck and Fernandez executions totaled at least 52 people and included nine judges, numerous police officials from Michigan, New York and Long Island, and press representatives from multiple named newspapers and outlets including the Detroit News, the New York Journal American, the World Telegram, the New York Daily News, the New York Mirror, New York’s El Diario, and the Pensacola Daily Times, among others.

The material also states that her remains were transported back to her hometown, where she rests in an unmarked grave.

Timeline

• February 28, 1949 — Beck and Fernandez were arrested after suspicious neighbors reported the disappearance at their door.
• March 8, 1951 — Beck was executed by electrocution at Sing Sing prison in New York.
• August 22, 1949 — Judge Pecora sentenced Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez to die in the electric chair.
• June 28, 1949 — The trial of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez opened.