Martha Babb was 38 years old when her roommate, David Thomas Muir, 39, grabbed her by the throat and strangled her.
Babb and Muir often fought because Babb was a prostitute who would bring clients home.
Babb, also known as John Alfred McDonald, was murdered on December 10, 1983, in their apartment on Wilton Street after a night of heavy drinking and fighting. Babb was shouting at Muir and Muir strangled her with his hands to keep her quiet. When Babb went limp, Muir said he thought she was faking it, and put her into a bathtub filled with water. When Babb was not revived, he covered her in a blanket and threw cat litter on top, then went out to continue drinking.
Muir, described as a long-time alcoholic, confessed that he had killed someone and left her in the bathtub. The friend called police, who found Babb in the apartment just as Muir was returning home. He was charged with second-degree murder.
Muir pleaded guilty to manslaughter in May, 1984 and was sentenced to five years in jail.
Murder Village Map
Vital Statistics
Name: Martha Babb AKA John Alfred McDonald
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Date of Death: December 10, 1983
Manner of Death: Strangulation
Location: Wilton Street
Suspect Name: David Thomas Muir
Conviction & Sentence: Manslaughter, five years
It’s embarrassing to say but Muir was my Dad…he was an extremely abusive alcoholic and the smartest thing my mother ever did was leave his pathetic ass! I am entirely convinced that had she not left when she did that he most certainly would have killed her and I. If its any consolation he received his karma, he was sentenced in May 1984 and died a painful death from cancer that December…handcuffed to a hospital bed in Kingston.