The toddler died in Children’s Hospital in Modesto in October, according to the death certificate for Christopher Ripley. His suspicion of Martinez in Christopher’s death surfaced early, making the accusation in divorce filings as police conducted a parallel investigation, which is usually automatically triggered in child deaths. The coroner and the Modesto Police are investigating the boy’s death, Sheriff’s Sgt.
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Family and friends have identified one of the women as Dr. Amanda Crews, a Stanislaus County health department physician, and two of the girls as 6-month-old Rachael, who Martinez fathered with Crews, and 6-year-old Elizabeth Ripley, Crews’ daughter with a previous husband.
Police said Martinez had a past romantic relationship with one of the women, who was also the mother of his daughter. All the victims are related, and the childrens ages range from 6 months to 6 years old, Graves said. San Jose police got a tip he was in the area visiting family. Neighbors in San Jose who heard the police activity on their street say they were terrified to hear what Martinez was arrested for. Investigators had named Martinez as a “person of interest” in the case Saturday and said he was last seen driving a red Lincoln Navigator.
Modesto police notified San Jose police that Martinez might be heading to a relative’s home in the vehicle, San Jose police Officer Albert Morales said. Family members said the boy died under mysterious circumstances after being in Martinez’s care. Officers arrested him without incident, Morales said.
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Crews’ mother, Paulette Beidleman, of Fallon, Nevada, said her daughter decided to become a doctor after breaking her arm in grade school and was dedicated to helping people. He has no visible criminal record in Santa Clara County, according to court records, and neighbors of the Lucerne Way home said Martinez was not a regular presence there.
