An Iowa man is facing murder charges after the death of his wife. James Martin allegedly stabbed his wife Amber to death with a kitchen knife while his mother slept in the other room. Although police investigators are still trying to piece together what happened, they do believe he planned to kill his wife before actually going through with it, and his motive might have had something to do with the couple’s finances. Martin was reportedly dealing with mental health struggles at the time of his wife’s killing, which could potentially affect his ability to stand trial, but that is still being determined.
The murder happened in the early morning.
Coralville police responded to a report of a stabbing at 6:40 a.m. on January 16, 2026, KCRG reported. Martin’s mother had called to report that he stabbed his wife. When officers arrived, they found Amber Martin with multiple stab wounds. Despite life-saving measures being attempted, she was declared dead at the scene.
Investigators found a bloody knife in the kitchen sink, as well as bloody clothes and smears. Martin was charged with first-degree murder.
Martin’s mother allegedly tried to stop her son.
She told police officers that she got to the home around 1 a.m. because her son’s mental health was “spiraling,” KCRG reported. She fell asleep on the couch and woke up to sounds coming from the laundry room. At first she believed it was the cat, but then she heard the words “help me, help me.”
Even though the light wasn’t on in the laundry room, she reportedly could see James Martin stabbing his wife. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, she “begged” her son to stop, even going so far as to put herself between the couple to end the violence.
When the attack ended, Martin’s mother couldn’t find her phone, so she told him to use his to call police.
James Martin had been planning to kill his wife, police say.
“In the hours leading up to the defendant killing the victim, the defendant formulated a plan to kill the victim,” detectives wrote in a criminal complaint obtained by Law & Crime. “The defendant retrieved a kitchen knife and surprised the victim as she exited another room and stabbed the victim repeatedly.”
James Martin admitted to killing his wife, the complaint states. He apparently believed they were in serious financial trouble.
According to a search warrant application from mid-February reviewed by CBS 2 Iowa, James Martin stabbed his wife to “put her out of her misery,” his mother told police. She also told authorities her son is bipolar and doesn’t sleep much.
The man was scheduled for a competency hearing on March 27, but it was postponed to May to allow more time to complete the evaluation.
His wifes’s colleagues are remembering her in the wake of her death.
“Amber was such a wonderful woman. She was vivacious, kind, and loved by all her coworkers,” Ann Ostermiller of Quincy, Iowa, told Muddy River News. “Jim was quieter and more reserved.”
Ostermiller said Amber Martin’s murder is “beyond the comprehension” of those who knew them. “They seemed to be such a close and loving couple. I cannot imagine what transpired to change their relationship so much,” she told Muddy River News.
Connie Floerchinger, who works at University of Iowa Health Care and was Amber Martin’s supervisor, also spoke about the loss.
“My entire staff and I are shocked and horrified by Amber’s death,” she said. “She was sweet, smart and had an amazing personality. She had only been with us since September but we all feel like we had known her forever! Our community and the field of clinical microbiology will not be the same without her.”
