Authorities arrested 47‑year‑old James Fuller Martin and charged him with first‑degree murder after police say he admitted to stabbing his wife, 41‑year‑old Amber Nicole Martin, at their Coralville home on Jan. 16. Amber, a microbiology supervisor at University of Iowa Health Care, was found with multiple stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. A criminal complaint alleges the attack was premeditated and occurred around 6:40 a.m.; the case is under active investigation. Coworkers remembered Amber as a beloved leader, and resources for domestic violence support were provided.
Husband Arrested And Charged With First‑Degree Murder After Alleged Fatal Stabbing Of University Lab Supervisor
Johnson County Iowa JailJames Fuller Martin
An Iowa man has been arrested and charged with first‑degree murder after police say he admitted to fatally stabbing his wife inside their Coralville home.
What Happened
Coralville police responded to a reported stabbing early Friday, Jan. 16. Officers found 41‑year‑old Amber Nicole Martin with multiple stab wounds; emergency responders provided medical aid but she was pronounced dead at the scene, local outlets report.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office filed a criminal complaint identifying 47‑year‑old James Fuller Martin as the suspect. According to reporting by Muddy River News and KWWL, James was taken into custody at the scene and allegedly admitted to stabbing his wife. The complaint asserts the attack occurred at about 6:40 a.m. after the defendant retrieved a kitchen knife and surprised Amber as she exited another room.
Amber Martin/FacebookAmber Nicole Martin
Allegations And Charges
Prosecutors have charged James Fuller Martin with first‑degree murder. The criminal complaint alleges the defendant acted with "malice aforethought, willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation" in formulating a plan to kill the victim. The allegations are from the complaint and have not been proven in court.
Colleagues Remember Amber
Amber Martin worked as a medical laboratory scientist supervisor in microbiology at University of Iowa Health Care. Her supervisor, Connie Floerchinger, told PEOPLE that Amber was "a very good leader" who fit into the team quickly and often spoke about how much she loved her job and colleagues.
"She walked to my doorway and I looked back at my computer. She turned around and said my name and when I looked up she gave me the hand heart sign. That was Amber in a nutshell," Floerchinger said.
Both Amber and James previously worked at Quincy Medical Group — Amber as Microbiology Coordinator and James as Hematology Coordinator. Ann Ostermiller, a Quincy Medical Group employee, described Amber as "vivacious, kind, and loved by all her coworkers" and said colleagues were stunned by the alleged killing.
Amber Martin/FacebookAmber Nicole Martin
Investigation Underway
Local law enforcement continues to investigate Amber Martin's death. Authorities and the employers named in coverage were contacted for comment, according to PEOPLE. Charges and allegations are part of an active legal process; information may evolve as investigators and prosecutors develop the case.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. Calls are toll‑free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Reporting sources: PEOPLE, Muddy River News, KWWL, The Gazette.
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