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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michelle Martens claimed that her daughter was drugged to relax her, but toxicology tests did not turn up any drugs, only alcohol.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. >> A New Mexico girl was strangled to death on her 10th birthday before she was dismembered and her remains set on fire, according to an autopsy released months after police uncovered the sexual abuse they say she suffered at the hands of her mother and others leading up to her killing.
The slaying of Victoria Martens sent shockwaves across the state in August and made national headlines as her mother, Michelle Martens, the mother’s boyfriend and his cousin were charged. They have pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges and are in custody pending an October trial.
The autopsy results, made public Monday, included evidence of prior sexual abuse and indicated that the girl was raped and strangled before her body was dismembered Aug. 23. Her spine was fractured, and she suffered both blunt and sharp injuries. Some of her organs were removed.
Police found the girl’s body in a bathtub, wrapped in a smoldering blanket. They were initially called to the apartment complex over a disturbance involving the suspects, unaware of what they would find inside the home.
Michelle Martens claimed that her daughter was drugged to relax her, but toxicology tests did not turn up any drugs, only alcohol. The amount of alcohol in Victoria’s system would have been enough to cause cognitive and physical impairment, according to the autopsy report.
Authorities allege that Michelle Martens watched as Fabian Gonzales raped and killed her daughter. Gonzales and his cousin, Jessica Kelley, are accused of dismemberment, according to court documents.
Gonzales has denied having anything to do with Victoria’s death.
Martens also told police she looked for men online to have sex with her daughter, according to search warrants. The documents say the mother told investigators that she had set up encounters with at least three men before the girl was killed.
Albuquerque police have not identified any of those men and it’s not clear whether any more arrests have been made.
No Authors of Horror stories could come up with what this poor child had gone through! The punishments that should be imposed on these entities aren’t worth my thoughts. I leave it to those capable, instrumental and with greater talents towards inflicting and creating them! With prayers, tears and love, a vigil of eternal light will be kept in my heart always. A means to let her know she will never be forgotten! RIP and let the Angels of God carry you toward God and your true home!
She is in heaven now. She has been set free from those who were supposed to protect and love her. The angels came for her. Thank God.
Could have fooled me, at first glance thought it was a picture of a guy -yuk.
Thanks Trump for condoning violence.
Really! My goodness you bring politics into a horrific crime. This poor girl, Air hurts my heart that she had this horrible life. Rest in peace.