When police responded to a disturbance at the Arroyo Villas apartment complex in Albuquerque, New Mexico, they had no idea of the impact it would have on their lives.
Not only will they never forget it, but they would go home and hold their children a little tighter, reminded of the reasons they go out every day to do what they do.
The anonymous call came early Wednesday morning. When they arrived, police found 35-year-old Michelle Martens and her 31-year-old boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, with cuts and bruises to the face. Gonzales’s shorts were stained with blood.
This is Fabien Gonzales tonight as police took him to MDC. He is the boyfriend of Michelle Martens. http://pic.twitter.com/1FRu4JB7lL
— Chris McKee (@ChrisMcKeeTV) August 25, 2016
Initially, authorities thought the couple had been assaulted by Jessica Kelley, a 31-year-old ex-con and Gonzales’s cousin, who was staying with Marten and Gonzales temporarily.
According to the criminal complaint, Martens and Gonzales fled the apartment after Kelley assaulted them with an iron.
.@ABQPOLICE say Jessica Kelley has refused to talk to investigators at this point. She’s still at hospital. #KOAT http://pic.twitter.com/eHu34Nh0RS
— Kirsten Swanson (@KirstenKOAT) August 25, 2016
When law enforcement officials arrived to question Kelley, however, she wouldn’t let them in. In fact, in an attempt to escape, she jumped from the balcony.
But that didn’t scratch the surface of why the call to the Arroyo Villas would be one of the worst tragedies law enforcement officials had ever seen.
After Martens, Gonzales, and Kelly were detained, Martens made a chilling comment about her daughter still being inside the apartment. Police busted through the door.
With the fire alarm going off, they found the source of the smoke in the bathroom. Lying in the bathtub, wrapped in a blanket, was an unrecognizable and lifeless 10-year-old girl.
Her name was Victoria Martens.
All AM on @KOB4, the latest on the investigation of Victoria Martens’ death, & the emotional community response. http://pic.twitter.com/KkdjKYQhA2
— KOB 4 (@KOB4) August 26, 2016
KOB 4 reported on the brutal way Victoria’s life was stolen from her:
According to the police report, Martens said Gonzales and Kelley gave the victim methamphetamine “to calm her down so they could have sex with her.” Gonzales allegedly sexually assaulted the victim as Kelley covered the girl’s mouth and Martens watched.
Martens reportedly told police Gonzales then killed the victim by choking her and Kelley stabbed her in the chest. Gonzales told police he was not involved in the death, saying Kelley killed her.
After they killed her, they dismembered her body, wrapped it in a blanket, and set it ablaze in the bathtub.
Victoria was supposed to celebrate her 10th birthday later that day.
10 year old Victoria Martens. Remember her name. Remember her beautiful smile. Rest in peace sweet angel http://pic.twitter.com/7tTfeX8JP2
— jackie tony donnie (@jtd1003) August 25, 2016
Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden Jr. said of the scene, via ABC News:
“This homicide is the most gruesome act of evil I have ever seen in my career. A complete disregard of human life.”
According to detectives, Martens, who has no criminal history, showed no remorse for helping to kill her own daughter.
Michelle Martens, mother, showed “absolutely no remorse,” when detectives questioned her about the killing. #KOAT http://pic.twitter.com/AWop3hsgXI
— Kirsten Swanson (@KirstenKOAT) August 25, 2016
The Associated Press reported that Gonzales was on probation for beating his girlfriend in 2015, but there was a failure to monitor him:
A New Mexico official says a man arrested in the killing of a 10-year-old Albuquerque girl was supposed to be on supervised probation from an unrelated case but wasn’t being monitored by probation officers.
New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez, who was a prosecutor for 25 years, said Victoria’s murder is the worst case of violence she’s ever seen.
With a one million dollar bond, Martens and Gonzales are facing the following charges:
- Child abuse leading to death
- Tampering with evidence
- Kidnapping
Additionally, Gonzales and Kelley are being charged with sexually abusing a minor.
In honor of Victoria’s memory and to celebrate the birthday she missed, a shrine of sorts was set up outside of the apartment for her.
So many young girls, many of them probably never knew Victoria Martens, but they helped her celebrate her bday http://pic.twitter.com/CROE2VRTyy
— Marissa Lucero (@MarissaKRQE) August 26, 2016
So many emotions on a day #Albuquerque is grieving the loss of 10-year-old Victoria Martens http://pic.twitter.com/afc4vlujBt
— Marissa Lucero (@MarissaKRQE) August 26, 2016
Kathy Jaramillo knew Martens and Victoria. Jaramillo said of her, “She was a beautiful little girl, she always had everybody always smiling.”
As far as justice goes, it’s unclear what kind of sentences the three are facing. But the atrocity has sparked a debate about New Mexico bringing back the death penalty.
The post Police Chief Calls Mother’s Brutal Murder of 10-Year-Old Child ‘Most Gruesome Act of Evil’ He’s Seen appeared first on Independent Journal Review.
Source: independent journal
The post Police Chief Calls Mother’s Brutal Murder of 10-Year-Old Child ‘Most Gruesome Act of Evil’ He’s Seen appeared first on .@tonygreene113.
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