Grand jury indicts man accused of stalking, threatening to kill ex-girlfriend

CHARLOTTE — A man has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly harassing, stalking, and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, court records show. Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz learned he had been previously convicted of stalking that same woman in a different state.

According to the indictment, the woman (referred to as “Jane Doe”) broke up with her boyfriend, Russell J. Martini, 45, of Bay Shore, New York, in March 2022. She moved the following month to the Charlotte area in order to get away from him, according to a search warrant in the case.

Martini is accused of harassing her from March 25 until May 9 of that year by sending her hundreds of messages. He allegedly made a social media account in Doe’s name using an explicit photo of her as the profile picture. He’s also accused of texting her sister, which violated a protective order that forbid him from contacting Doe directly or through a relative.

Then, prosecutors said he allegedly emailed Doe “You will forever be looking over your shoulder. You and your sister and [your mother].”

The indictment says Martini also threatened to post embarrassing photos and videos to social media and share them with Doe’s family, saying, ”u are gonna be sorry this time.”

Then, between April 12 and approximately May 9, Martini is accused of threatening Doe’s life by saying things like, “u ruined my life now I am gonna end yours [Jane Doe]!!” and “I am going to kill you [Jane Doe].”

According to the indictment, on May 6, Martini sent the following email: “[Jane Doe] tomorrow is your last chance we get back together willingly or I take you by force. You call me now text or email. No response I know it’s by force. Think I’m kidding good think that.”

Investigators said Martini traveled from New Jersey to Charlotte on an Amtrak between May 5 and 6. On May 7, he attacked her and tried to kidnap her after she returned home to her apartment, authorities said. A search warrant Sáenz obtained Wednesday said he “grabbed her by the hair, dragged her down the stairs, and punched her.” Moments later, a bystander came up and “drew a handgun.”

The documents say Martini allegedly ran from the scene but was arrested days later.

Later that day, authorities said he sent Doe another email: “[Jane Doe] you ready for round two? Do you still think I’m playing with you. I am going to kill you. Make this go away!! ! ! !”

Martini is charged with cyberstalking, stalking, kidnapping, and interstate threats. He even confessed to several of the crimes he’s accused of to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Martini is in state custody and will be scheduled to appear in federal court. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the kidnapping charge, and a maximum prison term of five years for each offense of cyberstalking, stalking, and communicating interstate threats, authorities said.

Martini is also wanted back in New York for multiple charges after authorities there said he broke the protective order against him, which was issued in June 2020. He was also convicted of stalking Doe back in 2018.

Bea Cote works with offenders of domestic violence. She offered some insight as to why many abusers they do what they do.

“They feel some sense of entitlement, mostly because they want to demonstrate their power in the relationship,” she explained.

Cote said one of the most dangerous times for a domestic violence victim is when she’s left. She said in this case, it could have triggered some of the things Martini is alleged to have done.

“She had left and he was not going to let that happen,” she said.

>> If you are or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, there is help available. The 24-hour domestic violence crisis hotline is 980-771-HOPE. Or, to get help for abusers, visit stepuptofamilysafety.org.

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