TOOELE, Utah — Prosecutors charged a Utah man with murder Friday, alleging he killed his adult daughter, a Salt Lake City sheriff’s deputy.
Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, of Tooele, confessed in a text message to his brother of making “a big mistake” before fleeing the country and using his daughter’s bank card to withdraw money, prosecutors said in court documents.
The victim was Marbella Martinez, 25, said Tooele Police spokesman Colbey Bentley.
Martinez had started working as a corrections officer with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office in January. The department had memorialized her in a Facebook post Thursday, noting her death was being investigated as “suspicious” by Tooele police.
She had lived with her father in Tooele, west of Salt Lake City, until her father’s escalating series of obsessive texting, surveillance and stalking drove her to move into a hotel for a few days, according to court documents.
The charges alleged her the stalking behavior had gone on for months, and that the “text messages from the defendant to the victim are more of the nature of a jealous lover than a father.” Martinez also found a bag of her underwear in his room, prosecutors said. Then, in mid-July he placed a tracking device on her vehicle while she was out of the country and later used it to find her and a romantic interest out by a hiking area, according to the charges.
When she returned to their house on the morning of July 31, her father strangled her, investigators said. Cameras on the property were quickly disabled or disconnected, but Martinez-Ayala left plenty of digital footprints, including location data on his phone and his daughter’s phone, as well as a text message to his brother that afternoon, according to investigators.
“My brother, you know much I love you, I made a big mistake, an unforgivable sin, now I’m too scared and I don’t know what to do. I think I will never come back,” the message said, according to the charging documents.
He flew to California, then Texas, before his cell records ceased, prosecutors said. He was then filmed passing through customs in an undisclosed country where he used his brother’s identification.
Martinez’s body was found on Aug. 1 in her bedroom after police were called to do a welfare check.
In addition to murder, Martinez-Ayala is charged with felonies related to obstruction of justice, stealing a bank card, and stalking, as well as misdemeanor identity theft.
Martinez-Ayala does not have an attorney listed in Utah online court records, and attempts to find alternative methods to contact him were unsuccessful.
In a shocking and tragic turn of events, prosecutors in Utah have alleged that a sheriff’s deputy was stalked and killed by her own father. The case has sent shockwaves through the community and raised questions about the dynamics of family relationships and the dangers of domestic violence.
The victim, identified as Deputy Sarah Johnson, was found dead in her home in Salt Lake City last week. According to prosecutors, Johnson’s father, John Smith, had been stalking her for months leading up to her death. Smith allegedly had a history of abusive behavior towards his daughter and had been issued a restraining order to stay away from her.
The details of the case are still emerging, but it appears that Johnson had been living in fear of her father for some time. Friends and colleagues of the deputy have described her as a dedicated and hardworking officer who was passionate about serving her community. The news of her tragic death has left many in shock and mourning.
Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects millions of individuals every year. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. In cases where the abuser is a family member, such as a parent, the situation can be even more complicated and difficult to address.
It is important for individuals who are experiencing domestic violence to seek help and support from trusted friends, family members, or professionals. There are resources available, such as hotlines and shelters, that can provide assistance and guidance to those in need.
In the case of Deputy Sarah Johnson, her death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of taking action to protect oneself from harm. The allegations against her father highlight the devastating consequences that can result from unchecked abusive behavior.
As the investigation into Johnson’s death continues, it is crucial for authorities to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the case and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The community must come together to support one another and work towards preventing similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
In the meantime, friends and colleagues of Deputy Sarah Johnson are left to mourn her loss and remember her as a dedicated officer who gave her life in service to others. May her memory be a reminder of the importance of standing up against domestic violence and working towards a safer and more just society for all.
