In a horrifying incident of child abuse, a 10-year-old girl was strangled and dismembered on her birthday, with her remains later set on fire.
The victim, Victoria Martens, was discovered to have been sexually abused by her mother, as revealed in an autopsy conducted months after authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic altercation. Upon arrival at the scene in 2018, police found the girl’s charred remains partially wrapped in a burning blanket at Michelle’s residence.
Michelle, aged 35, her boyfriend Fabian Gonzales, 31, and Gonzales’ cousin Jessica Kelley, 31, were apprehended and charged with various offenses, including first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in serious harm or death, kidnapping, evidence tampering, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Michelle admitted to one count of child abuse leading to death, initially claiming that Victoria was given alcohol and methamphetamine to sedate her for sexual purposes, though later retracting this statement.
Authorities claim that Michelle witnessed Gonzales raping and murdering her daughter, with both Gonzales and Kelley allegedly involved in dismembering the body. Gonzales denied any role in the crime, stating that he was not responsible for the girl’s death.
Legal representatives for the accused individuals made varying statements regarding the case, with Michelle Martens’ attorney considering certain autopsy findings beneficial to their defense. Search warrants indicated Michelle’s online search for individuals to abuse her daughter, alleging that she allowed multiple men to assault the child.
The trials of Gonzales and Kelley were postponed to 2022, while Michelle accepted a plea deal in 2018 for child abuse resulting in death. Gonzales faced reduced charges and was sentenced to 37-and-a-half years in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving half the term. Michelle received a 12-year prison sentence but was released in October. Kelley pleaded guilty to charges of reckless child abuse resulting in death and was sentenced to 44 years in 2022, expected to serve less than half of her term.
