DNA evidence leads to arrest of man in slaying

A grand jury indicted a Pensacola man this week on charges relating to the death of a woman reported missing by her husband in April.

John Homer Docherty is charged with first-degree homicide in the death of Sharon Martin, who was 55 years old when she disappeared April 2, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office reported.

Martin's body still has not been found.

"It's tough (to get an indictment) without a body," said Lee Tyree, who is the lead investigator in the case. "But we had blood evidence and a DNA match."

Tyree declined to say more about the DNA evidence, citing the ongoing investigation.

Docherty, who was the maintenance worker at an apartment complex owned by Martin, was arrested May 4 after he used Martin's credit card several times at a local Wal-Mart' according to police.

Martin had resided on Ash Drive near North Ninth Avenue, south of Cordova Mall. She was last seen showing a man and a woman an apartment that she managed on East Nine Mile Road.

"We are still looking for the couple she was showing the apartment to," Tyree said. "We would really like to talk to them."

Martin's husband, Calvin Wilson, last heard from her when she called him at lunchtime on March 30.

The indictment came after a seven-month investigation.

"I feel satisfied to have gotten to this point," Tyree said. "It is my hope, and the family's hope, that we will find her body."

Docherty initially was arrested in May and charged with one count of grand theft, one count of fraud, three counts of illegal use of credit cards and three counts of forgery.

Each of those charges is a third-degree felony, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.

Docherty is being held at Escambia County Jail without bond.