Virgil Martinez was executed by the State of Texas for four murders
According to court documents Virgil Martinez would murder Casandra Fuentes, 3, her brother, Joshua, 5, their mother, Veronica Fuentes, and 18 year-old John Gomez. The motive seems to be a relationship gone bad
Virgil Martinez was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Virgil Martinez was executed by lethal injection on January 30 2009
Virgil Martinez Photos
Virgil Martinez FAQ
When Was Virgil Martinez Executed
Virgil Martinez was executed on January 30 2009
Virgil Martinez Case
Although he had attempted to use a claim of mental problems as a defense, Virgil Euristi Martinez was executed for the murders of two children, Casandra Fuentes, 3, her brother, Joshua, 5, their mother, Veronica Fuentes, and 18 year-old John Gomez on Wednesday.
On Oct. 1, 1996, the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor reporting shots being fired from the Fuentes home on CR 128.
Each victim had been shot numerous times, with Casandra having five wounds, and her brother three.
Their mother had been shot in the head, as well as 13 other times, when Martinez used a 9 mm handgun to kill them.
Gomez was shot eight times, and was alive when deputies arrived, but later died at a hospital.
With several witnesses watching, Martinez fled the scene, and a massive manhunt followed.
His car was later found in Del Rio, along the Mexican border.
The former security guard was arrested on Oct. 14, in a mental hospital where he had admitted himself, under the alias Carlos Hernandez, saying he was from California.
He called 9-1-1 telling police that he was hearing voices that were telling him to kill people and asked for help.
After being picked up at a convenience store, Martinez received a court ordered mental evaluation.
During that evaluation, he said that someone named Carlos was telling him to get a gun and shoot people.
Meanwhile, a bulletin describing the murders, and a photo of the wanted man were printed in a Del Rio newspaper.
An emergency medical technician identified Martinez as someone who had been picked up for mental problems, and told police Martinez had been sent to Kerrville State Hospital.
The discovery of a 1990 gray Mitsubishi in Del Rio also led to finding Martinez.
The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department was notified and Martinez was arrested at the hospital.
There had been no history of Martinez having any mental problems.
Detective H.M. Atchison, who worked the case at the time, said he felt Martinez had checked himself into the mental hospital to establish groundwork for an insanity plea.
His trial took place in 1998, when he was found guilty and sentenced to death.
After several court efforts, the case was referred to the U.S. Supreme Court where an appeal was rejected.
Martinez was then given a date for his sentence to be carried out on Jan. 28.
Martinez ordered a large, final meal for his execution day.
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