An Atlanta minister accused of child rape, who disappeared moments before being convicted, is now back in custody.
Don Martin, 45, vanished without a trace five days into his trial for repeatedly raping a young girl from the time she was 7 years old, until 13. Authorities had been looking for him since Dec. 5. That search is finally over.
The Fulton County District Attorney's Office said Martin was captured in the Bahamas, where the 45-year-old is originally from. Bahamian media said he was caught at the Lynden Pindling International Airport Dec. 15 trying to flee the country.
According to authorities, Martin, who served as a minister at the Cathedral of Faith Church of God in Christ, was a friend of the child’s legal guardian. The two met at the Atlanta church. Martin would spend the night at their house and that’s when the abuse would happen, according to Fulton County D.A. Paul Howard.
Atlanta Police launched its investigation into Martin in 2011 after the young girl reported that he touched her inappropriately for several years at different locations across College Park and Atlanta, according to court records. Howard said Atlanta Police closed the case in 2011 when the victim failed to show up for a forensic interview and Martin provided an alibi. However, investigators reopened the case in 2014 after the victim repeated stories of alleged abuse.
Martin was arrested in 2014 but was released on $15,000 bond, with the condition that he wear an ankle monitor. Three years later, that ankle monitor was removed.
A judge convicted him in absentia on charges of rape, aggravated sexual battery, first degree cruelty to children and child molestation for the case. He sentenced Martin Dec. 17 to serve life in prison plus 20 years.
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