A Utah father stands accused of murdering his own daughter, a sheriff’s deputy, before fleeing the country.
The suspect, Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, was becoming “increasingly obsessed and controlling” over his 25-year-old daughter, Marbella Martinez, leading up to her death, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the news and media outlet People.
Authorities allege that Martinez-Ayala’s behaviour had escalated in the months before the slaying, with investigators describing his actions as more akin to those of a “jealous lover” than a father.
As per the affidavit, text messages from Martinez-Ayala to his daughter suggested an unhealthy fixation.
The father has since been charged with murder and several other serious offences, including two counts of obstruction of justice, stalking, and unlawful possession of both financial transaction cards and other individuals’ identifying documents.
According to the affidavit, Martinez-Ayala’s obsessive and troubling behaviour had been ongoing for some time.
In fact, investigators allege that he had begun stalking his daughter, going as far as placing a tracking device on her vehicle.
Prosecutors also claim that Martinez discovered a bag of his daughter’s underwear in his room, further highlighting the disturbing nature of his actions.
The tracking device was reportedly used on July 29, 2024, to follow Marbella and romantic interest to Bates Canyon, a popular hiking spot.
After this incident, Marbella decided to stay at a hotel but returned to the home she shared with her father on July 31. This would be the last time she was seen alive.
Security footage captured Marbella entering her home at around 12:23 p.m. on July 31. However, at 2:17 p.m., just moments after her father’s return home, the cameras were disabled or disconnected from the internet.
Authorities believe any video footage recorded after this time was deleted or did not exist due to the disconnection.
The affidavit alleges that Martinez-Ayala had complete control of the cameras, further implicating him in the events that unfolded that day.
Marbella’s body was found the following morning, on August 1, 2024, in her bedroom in the Tooele home she shared with her father.
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She was lying on her bed, covered with a blanket up to her neck. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation. This brutal and intimate method stressed the sad end of what appeared to be a deeply troubled father-daughter relationship.
The details of her death have left the Tooele residents in shock. As Tooele City Police Department Corporal Colbey Bentley explained to the Press, “We as a department are working with numerous agencies around the clock to bring Hector into custody for what he did. As we strive to give Deputy Marbella Martinez the justice she is owed, we plead with anyone with helpful information or who may be actively helping hide Hector to do the right thing and help us bring him into custody.”
Just two hours after the cameras were disabled, at around 4:30 p.m., Martinez-Ayala allegedly texted his brother, confessing what he had done. “My brother, you know how much I love you,” the message read, according to the affidavit. “I made a big mistake, an unforgivable sin. Now I’m too scared and don’t know what to do. I think I will never come back.”
Authorities allege that after sending this message, Martinez-Ayala attempted to cover his tracks by disposing of his daughter’s cell phone and fleeing.
He drove to Salt Lake City International Airport, boarded a San Francisco flight, and continued to Houston. He allegedly used his brother’s identification to fly to an undisclosed international destination.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured him at the airport using his brother’s ID. His current whereabouts remain unknown, but his last known location was outside the United States.
The murder of Deputy Marbella Martinez has left her colleagues, friends, and community reeling. Described as a dedicated and compassionate officer, her tragic death has sparked widespread calls for justice.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the case or Martinez-Ayala’s whereabouts to come forward. As per Tooele County Dispatch Center, those who know his location are encouraged to call 435-882-5600, option 1.
