Insets, from left: Joseph Martinez (GoFundMe) and Saul Martinez (Shelby County Jail). Background: Home in the 3200 block of Southbridge Street in Memphis, Tenn., where Martinez allegedly killed Joseph (Google Maps).
A Tennessee father allegedly murdered his toddler son, stuffed his body in a suitcase and ditched the remains in a river.
Saul Martinez, 22, stands accused of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in the death of 3-year-old Joseph Martinez in Memphis, cops said.
Police began investigating the case around 8 a.m. on Monday as a missing persons report, a probable cause arrest affidavit said. The boy’s mother said she dropped her son off on Saturday at Martinez’s home in the 3200 block of Southbridge Street. Martinez’s father, who also lives in the home, told cops his son had custody of Joseph and his brother for about three weeks.
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Around midnight on Saturday, Martinez came into his father’s room and asked for money before taking his car keys to his Infiniti Q60 without permission, the complaint stated. Martinez was seen “pulling a large brown suitcase” toward the Infiniti before placing it in the front seat and driving off, cops wrote.
The defendant returned to the home about three hours later before leaving in another vehicle. Martinez came back again around 7 a.m. The boy was nowhere in sight. Asked where Joseph was, Martinez initially claimed he was with friends. But when pressed further, Martinez told his father and other family members that Joseph was “dead” and he placed the boy’s body in the Wolf River.
Martinez brought officers to an area near Second Street and Plum Avenue that connects to the river. He showed them the suitcase that contained his son’s remains, the affidavit said. A cause of death has not been released.
After receiving his Miranda warnings, Martinez allegedly admitted to killing his son and disposing of his body in a cove on the river. The affidavit did not state a motive. Cops arrested him and took him to the Shelby County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
Joseph’s family started a GoFundMe for funeral costs.
“Joseph was more than a name. He was someone’s precious baby, grandson, and loved one. He had a whole life ahead of him—a life that should have been filled with laughter, birthdays, hugs, playing, learning, and growing up surrounded by those who loved him,” the description said. “Instead, his family is now facing a loss no parent or grandparent should ever have to endure.”
The post Dad murdered 3-year-old son before stuffing his body in ‘large brown suitcase’ and ditching remains in river: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
