The following story has been updated to reflect criminal charges now filed in the case.
Cynthia “Cyndy” Martin, the chair of the 8th Congressional District DFL, has been formally charged with criminal vehicular homicide, including a special addendum for leaving the scene of a collision.
According to the Itasca County District Court’s criminal complaint, on the evening of July 3, Carter Haithcock, 19, of Goodland, was struck by Martin’s 2005 GMC Yukon while walking along the lane on Highway 169 shortly after 11:00 p.m. in Nashwauk, located in Itasca County.
After Martin’s SUV struck Haithcock and left the scene, a motorist saw Haithcock lying on the road and pulled over to call police. It was then that Haithcock, still lying on the road, was struck by another motorist. When EMT’s arrived, Haithcock was pronounced dead at the scene.
Early the next morning on July 4, Martin contacted authorities, stating she believed she had hit an owl or turkey while driving through Nashwauk the previous night.
According to the criminal complaint, Martin spent that evening having dinner at the Sawmill Saloon in Mountain Iron before driving home.
A State Patrol examination of Martin’s vehicle revealed a nonfunctional passenger side headlight, damage to the right front of the SUV and cracks in the windshield. A piece of fabric recovered from the hood “was consistent with the sweatshirt worn by [Haithcock],” the complaint read.
Martin also told authorities she did not stop after she struck something, but continued home, according to the complaint. However, investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the Nashwauk Sinclair gas station on 169.
The footage captured a dark-colored SUV, believed to be Martin’s, with a single headlight pulling over to the side of the southbound lane near the crash site and remain stopped for about 25 seconds before driving away.
Martin’s involvement denied by DFL in July
Martin, a prominent DFL activist, is pictured in multiple social media posts with Minnesota Democrats including Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Shortly after Haithcock’s death in July, Alpha News reached out to the Itasca County DFL about a reported hit-and-run. At the time, a DFL spokesperson denied Martin’s involvement in a hit and run incident.
Recently, Alpha News contacted the DFL again for clarification. In an email response , the DFL wrote: “Accidents happen; the accident is under investigation; the accident has nothing to do with Itasca County DFL. End of ‘story.’”
Alpha News reached out to Martin on multiple occasions but did not receive a response.
Victim’s family vocal on social media
In a Facebook post, Haithcock’s sister, Gabrielle Haithcock, alleged that Martin fled the scene after the accident.
“Cyndy Martin killed my brother in a hit and run, seen on video backing up to his body, then left him there on the side of the road. Early the next morning she got a lawyer & called the accident in claiming she ‘thought she hit an owl’ that night but now thought she may have hit a man. Walking free… being she’s a political activist I think that’s why this is being covered up. None of this is right at all,” stated Gabrielle in a Facebook post.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
