Six years after a pregnant teen went lacking in California, police say they arrested her killer | EUROtoday
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For greater than six years, a pregnant California teenager has been lacking, abandoning a path of unanswered questions. Now, investigators say they’ve lastly arrested who they allege is her killer.
Joshua Martinez, 28, was arrested March 12 and has been charged with homicide within the 2019 disappearance of 16-year-old Victoria Marquina. Her physique has by no means been discovered.
Martinez had beforehand been arrested in reference to Marquina’s disappearance however was launched on the time as a consequence of inadequate proof, in accordance with The Stockton Record. Authorities say new know-how and data developed throughout the previous yr helped result in the indictment.
Martinez appeared in San Joaquin County Superior Court Monday the place he was arraigned on a number of fees together with homicide, illegal intercourse with a minor, oral copulation with an individual underneath 18, and sexual penetration with a minor, in accordance with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office and the Amador County District Attorney’s Office.
“Today marks the beginning of Victoria Marquina’s journey for justice,” Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe stated at a press convention.
“This day would not be possible without her mother’s unyielding love,” he added, referring to Marquina’s mom, who has not given up the seek for her daughter.
According to San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas, Marquina, of Sutter creek, was final seen alive on October 9, 2019, close to her office in Amador County. Her mom reported her lacking the next day.
Two days after Marquina was reported lacking, her black Honda Accord was discovered deserted close to Escalon in San Joaquin County.
Marquina and Martinez, who met only a month earlier than her disappearance, had a really quick relationship, Freitas stated. Martinez was 21 years previous on the time.
“They had met just about a month before her disappearance and she became pregnant,” Freitas stated on Monday. “It was a whirlwind, very fast relationship, and very short.”
Martinez fled to Mexico after Marquina vanished, and was extradited again to the U.S. earlier than his first arrest in 2020, prosecutors stated, in accordance with NewsNation.
Freitas stated Monday that his workplace labored with a number of companies as a part of a chilly case activity power, which in the end uncovered new leads.
“To the family members of cold case victims, we will never stop in the pursuit of justice,” he stated.
He wouldn’t go into specifics about what led them to the arrest, however solely attributed it to new know-how and data grew to become out there within the final yr.
Despite the arrest, authorities say the case is way from over.
Marquina’s stays have by no means been recovered, and investigators are urging the general public to come back ahead with any data.
“Victoria is dead, and we are looking for her remains and the remains of her unborn child,” Freitas stated. “We need closure for the family so anyone having that information of where her remains are, we’re asking them to come forward.”
Following the listening to, Freitas once more known as on the general public for assist as investigators continued looking for solutions.
“We want to bring closure to Victoria’s mother, allow her to bury her child and her grandchild,” Freitas stated.
Martinez, who’s being represented by attorneys Allen Sawyer and Kirk Holman, faces a most sentence of life in jail if convicted.
He stays in custody on the San Joaquin County Jail and is scheduled to return to court docket April 6.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/missing-pregnant-teen-victoria-marquina-cold-case-arrest-b2940536.html