A man from Utah is currently facing multiple charges and is suspected of fleeing the country following the tragic death of his 25-year-old daughter, who served as a sheriff’s deputy.
Last month, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office sadly announced the passing of Deputy Marbella Martinez on Aug. 1. It is a tragic loss, as she had only been sworn in as a corrections officer less than six months ago.
Initially, the office stated that the Tooele Police Department was looking into her death with suspicion.
Now, more than a month later, a spokesperson for the Tooele City Police Department has informed PEOPLE that Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, the father of Martinez, is now facing a range of charges. These charges include murder, obstruction of justice, stalking a cohabitant, unlawful possession and use of financial transaction cards, as well as unlawful possession of someone else’s identifying documents.
Authorities claim that Martinez-Ayala is accused of strangling his daughter. They have also stated that they have taken possession of several items that are of interest to Hector, including his vehicle.
Martinez was first found by police around 8 a.m. on Aug. 1, when authorities responded to a welfare check, as reported by ABC affiliate KTVX.
According to KSL, her body was found on her bed with what appeared to be fingernail claw marks on her face and neck.
Martinez resided with her father and arrived back at his residence at approximately 11 a.m. on July 31. She was captured on an indoor camera at around 12:23 p.m. before Martinez-Ayala arrived at the house at 2:17 p.m., according to the outlet.
According to prosecutors, KSL reported that any footage recorded after her father’s return home was either deleted or never existed due to the cameras being disabled after his arrival.
According to court documents obtained by the Associated Press, prosecutors claim that Martinez-Ayala had been involved in stalking behavior for several months. According to sources, the messages sent by the defendant to the victim seem to reflect more of a possessive romantic partner rather than a caring father.
According to court documents, as reported by the AP, it is alleged that Martinez-Ayala’s daughter discovered a bag of her underwear in his room. Additionally, it is claimed that he placed a tracking device on her vehicle in order to locate her at a hiking area where she was with a romantic interest.
According to KTVX, it is believed that the father got rid of Martinez’s phone while on his way to the Salt Lake City Airport. The phone was found near I-80.
According to reports, he traveled to San Francisco and then Houston, before reportedly using his twin brother’s identification when he arrived in another country, as stated by prosecutors. According to KSL, his whereabouts were last reported outside of the U.S.
Last month, Sheriff Rosie Rivera expressed her appreciation for Deputy Martinez’s commitment to our Sheriff’s Office family.
She said, “Deputy Martinez was a dedicated member of our Sheriff’s Office family. In her short time with us, she became a cherished friend and an integral part of our team. Her untimely and tragic death is a profound loss for us all.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones during this heartbreaking time. We hope that the investigation will provide answers and some measure of justice for our Deputy and her family,” she also added.
