Martin Martinez Murder Trial - Court Documents Provide Aggravating Evidence in Crews' Murder

Amanda Crews, Elizabeth Ripley, Martin Martinez

Thanks to the Internet, we can take a peek into the justice system and review court documents relating to criminal trials in Stanislaus County.  They don't divulge all, but there is some telling information to be found in the case of CA vs. Martin Martinez.  Martinez is facing a total of 6 murder charges in 2 separate cases (that may be combined) for the killings of his girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend) Dr. Amanda Crews, Rachel, who was his own 6 month old daughter with Crews, Elizabeth Crews - Amanda Crews 6 year old daughter with ex husband Timothy Ripley and Martinez's own mother and niece were among his victims.  In a separate case, he stands accused of aggravated child abuse and murder in the death of 2 year old Christopher Ripley.  Christopher and Elizabeth were the children of Amanda Crews and Timothy Ripley but Martinez was reportedly close to both of the children.

Christopher suffered a fatal head injury in 2014 while under the care and supervision of Martin Martinez.  He died in a hospital two days later of massive head injuries.  The injuries were inconsistent with Martinez's changing stories of  how the injury happened and his death was subsequently ruled a homicide.  It's not surprising that a man facing 6 murder charges is facing the death penalty.  The death penalty is for these types of cases where an entire family has been eliminated from life on earth but the delays in getting to trial can be brutal for the families.

Martinez has plead not guilty to all charges and has remained in the Stanislaus County Jail since his arrest the day after the July, 2015 murders.  He has had several court appearances and subsequent delays in appearances.  I was at the last court date and saw him with my own two eyes.  I've only seen a few pictures of him prior to the court viewing and his look has changed substantially.  Gone is the short clean cut hair, instead Martinez now has hair that goes well beyond his shoulders and a beard and mustache.  He appears much heavier than prior photos - I would bet money that he is trying to bulk up for his eventual prison sentence because the CA prison system is full of very large inmates who don't appreciate killer's of women and children.

Martinez is facing a lifetime of having to look over his shoulder, and that's only IF he is spared the death penalty.  I'd have to say that a death sentence is more likely based on the sheer volume of murders and the violence and broken trust involved.  (Allegedly) killing 3 little girls aged from as young as 6 months to 6 years old is going to put a big target on his back in prison.  He also killed (sorry, allegedly) his own mother and 5 year old niece.  In the second case, he is accused of causing the death of a 2 year old little boy.  He'd better be bulking up because he is going to be a marked man when he enters prison.

According to the Stanislaus County Court's website, the state plans to enter aggravating evidence during the penalty phase including but not limited to:

• Testimony of friends and relatives who discovered the victims bodies
• Photographs and video of the victims in life
• Victim impact evidence including testimony of family and close friends of the victims
• The defendant's lack of remorse at the scene of the homicides
• Evidence of the defendant's statements about the victims
• Violence used to commit the homicides
• Crime scene details showing advance planning and lack of remorse
• All guilt phase evidence showing premeditation and deliberation, multiple murders and lying in wait

The State will also provide evidence of the defendant's character, background and history will include but not be limited to:

• Defendant's prior acts of child abuse and domestic violence

I don't know what type of defense Martinez has planned, but it will have to be spectacular to spare his life if he did murder 6 people in cold blood.  It seems to me that in most cases if the defendant can be put at the scene of the crime via DNA evidence (his blood mixed with victims, etc.) then for a man who can't necessarily claim he was an abused boyfriend - he may go for an insanity plea or temporary insanity.  That's the only way he could try to explain away the excessive violence it would take to kill those 5 people he knew so well.  I personally think "temporary insanity" is a bunch of bull.  If you were sane enough to plan this out, and then lying in wait - and killing one person, and then the next and the next and the next and the next...3 of the 5 were little girls.  Cowardly act if I ever heard of one.

Martin Martinez is a scary looking man.  You often hear people talking about the hair on the back of their neck standing up or certain reactions in the presence of certain people - I had that very reaction.  I wouldn't want to be in a room alone with Martinez.  He had his back to the gallery but he just had an evil aura about him.  I believe there is another hearing scheduled for December 18 and then a more substantial hearing in late January of 2018.  If I'm here in Modesto, I'm planning on attending both.  It's fascinating to see the justice system in action.  There has been so little disclosed about this mass murder case that I want to hear the whole story from start to finish.

I don't have some morbid fascination with death.  I am just very interested in the criminal justice system and true crime cases.  This just happened to have happened in my back yard and I may never have the opportunity to attend this type of trial again.  I look forward to posting if I'm able to attend.

In the meantime, I'd like to find out more about Dr. Amanda Crews.  Everything I've read about her is "heart of gold" type of descriptions - but who was she?  What did she enjoy in life?  She obviously loved being a doctor and had many many patients who were devastated at the loss of her.  That says a lot about a person.  How did she end up in Modesto?  Where did she meet and marry Tim Ripley?  I'm inquisitive.  I'll keep digging until I find what I'm looking for.  This is a tragic story, but one I really would like to tell.  Have a great week!