Utah Father Charged with Murder of Corrections Officer Daughter

September 8, 2024

UTAH: A Utah father has been charged with the heinous murder of his corrections officer daughter, Marbella Martinez, 25, who was found dead in their shared home in Tooele last month. Hector Martinez-Ayala, 54, was previously named a person of interest in the case and is now facing multiple charges, including murder, stalking, and obstructing justice.

According to court documents, Martinez-Ayala had become increasingly controlling and obsessive with his daughter, even installing a tracking device on her vehicle. On the day of the murder, he disabled security cameras at their home and disposed of his daughter's phone, which contained incriminating video footage.

Martinez-Ayala allegedly fled the country using his twin brother's identification, leaving behind a trail of evidence and cryptic text messages, including one that read, "I made a big mistake, an unforgivable sin." His current whereabouts are unknown.

The state Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Martinez died from strangulation. Investigators have pieced together a disturbing timeline of events, including Martinez-Ayala's attempts to cover his tracks and evade capture.

The charges against Martinez-Ayala include:

- Murder

- Stalking

- Obstructing justice

- Unlawful financial transactions

- Possession of another's identification

- Unlawful use of a transaction card