Police officers allege that when her remains were found, both of her arms were severed and her left leg was also nearly completely detached from the rest of her body. The archbishop asked all Catholics to pray for the girl for an end to child abuse.
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Albuquerque judge ordered 35-year-old Michelle Martens held Thursday during her first court appearance following the brutal death of his daughter. In 2015, Gonzales pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor crimes for allegedly having beaten a woman in a auto while she was driving.
KRQE-TV says Gonzales pleaded no contest in 2015 to two misdemeanors after his arrest for beating a woman in a auto with a baby inside it while the woman was driving.
Pleading no contest in 2015 kept Gonzales out of jail, but a judge mandated that he be tested for drugs and monitored by probation officers, according to ABC News. However, those court orders had not been followed.
Deputy Corrections Secretary Alex Sanchez said Friday that her agency never received a judgment and sentence order in a previous case involving 31-year-old Fabian Gonzales.
Late Wednesday night 31-year-old Fabian Gonzales and 35-year-old Michelle Martens were booked into custody. Her attorney said she’s aware of the possible penalties.
ABC News reported that all three suspects arrested by the police, Gonzales, Michelle Martens, and Jessica Kelley, “face charges of child abuse resulting in death, kidnapping and tampering with evidence”.
She pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration and was sentenced to three years in prison minus almost a year for time served. That woman was later identified as 31-year-old Jessica Kelley, a cousin of Gonzales who had just been released from prison. Then, Gonzales reportedly had sex with the girl while Kelley watched.
According to the complaint, the child had no pulse, her left leg was nearly completely cut off and both arms were missing. He said, according to CNN, that it was his cousin Kelley stabbed and dismembered Victoria.
When the Albuquerque, New Mexico police arrived at the murder scene, the apartment was filled with smoke and there were two adults who had minor injuries. A third adult attempted to get away by jumping off a balcony.
A criminal complaint filed Thursday says Martens told officers that Gonzales gave her daughter methamphetamine before raping her. Police say officers found the girl’s dismembered body Wednesday morning after receiving a disturbance call at an Albuquerque apartment.
The complaint says the girl’s body was in a bathtub, partially wrapped in a burning blanket.
Friends and family honored the victim during a vigil Thursday, with one person saying Victoria Martens will always be remembered by her smile.
Another vigil for murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens was held by Mayor Richard Berry, reports KRQE During the media-friendly event, he offered his condolences to the community, expressed his outrage at the awful crime (which is being called one of the worst in the history of Albuquerque) and reminded locals to contact authorities if they suspect child abuse is taking place.
Both Gonzales and Kelley have arrest resords, it was said.
Kelley, who is now being hospitalized, is also expected to be charged with kidnapping, murder and child rape.
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Candles, flowers and stuffed animals mark the memorial for a 10-year old girl, who New Mexico police said was brutally murdered.
