A Utah man whom authorities described as changing into “more and more obsessed and controlling” over his grownup daughter, a 25-year-old sheriff’s deputy, is on the run after he was accused of killing her final month.
Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, was charged final week with offenses together with homicide and stalking a present or former cohabitant after his daughter, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Marbella Martinez, was found useless on Aug. 1.
Martinez’s physique was discovered “mendacity on high of the mattress, lined with a blanket as much as her neck,” within the dwelling she shared together with her father in Tooele, based on a possible trigger affidavit obtained by JHB.
Courtesy of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Workplace
Officers who found Martinez’s physique known as her loss of life suspicious after seeing blood in her mouth and what seemed like fingernail claw marks on her face and neck, based on the affidavit.
The state health worker’s workplace decided Martinez’s loss of life was attributable to strangulation.
Police described textual content messages that Martinez obtained from her father as “extra of the character of a jealous lover than a father.” Authorities additionally cited extra disturbing incidents involving Martinez’s father and the way he allegedly behaved towards his grownup youngster.
At one level, after Martinez discovered a bag of her underwear together with her used female hygiene merchandise inside her dad’s room, she confronted him through textual content message and he promised he would “change” and cease the habits, the affidavit stated.
However in July, the 54-year-old positioned a monitoring system on his daughter’s automotive whereas she was overseas, based on the affidavit. That very same month, he allegedly tracked down Martinez and her romantic accomplice in a neighboring city.
For 2 days after that, Martinez didn’t return dwelling and as an alternative stayed at a resort, based on the affidavit.
Surveillance footage from their dwelling confirmed the deputy returning on July 31 at round 11 a.m. and her father arriving about 3 hours later, based on the affidavit. Authorities stated that any surveillance footage from after his arrival was deleted or that the cameras had been disabled.
Round 4:34 p.m. that day, police allege, Martinez-Ayala texted his brother, stating that he made a mistake and was not coming again. (Police didn’t say the place his brother resides.)
“My brother, you already know a lot I really like you, I made an enormous mistake, an unforgivable sin, now I’m too scared and I don’t know what to do,” the message learn, based on police. “I feel I’ll by no means come again.”
Martinez-Ayala left the house, taking his daughter’s cellphone and disposing of it on the way in which to the Salt Lake Metropolis Airport, police stated within the affidavit. The cellphone was later discovered on the aspect of the freeway.
In response to the affidavit, Martinez-Ayala flew to San Francisco after which to Houston, after which used his twin brother’s identification when he landed out of the country. (Police additionally didn’t make clear whether or not his twin brother is the brother he texted, or if he has different siblings.) His final recognized location was outdoors the U.S. — authorities didn’t specify the place — and his present whereabouts are unknown.
The Tooele Metropolis Police Division advised JHB on Friday that there isn’t any replace on the investigation at the moment.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera stated in an announcement following Martinez’s loss of life that the 25-year-old had been sworn in as a corrections officer in January.
“Deputy Martinez was a devoted member of our Sheriff’s Workplace household. In her quick time with us, she grew to become a cherished good friend and an integral a part of our group,” Rivera stated. “Her premature and tragic loss of life is a profound loss for us all.”
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