A Northern Arizona father, Anthony Martinez, has now been convicted of first-degree murder and several other charges in the tragic 2020 starvation death of his 6-year-old son, Deshaun Martinez.
The 6-year-old child was confined to a tiny bedroom closet for up to 16 hours a day for a month, as punishment for taking food at night while his parents slept.
Arizona Father Found Guilty in Starvation Death
On Thursday, a Coconino County Superior Court jury found 28-year-old Anthony Martinez guilty of the murder of his son, Deshaun. Martinez was also convicted on multiple counts of child abuse, kidnapping, and aggravated assault on law enforcement officers.
The Arizona father is convicted of two counts of child abuse, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, and first-degree murder for the death of his child.
His trial started on April 18, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 28. An autopsy revealed the boy weighed only 18 pounds (8.1 kilograms) at the time of his death, which was ruled a homicide.
This conviction follows that of the boy's mother, Elizabeth Archibeque, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse in July 2023. She received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Furthermore, aside from the parents, the grandmother of their two children, Ann Martinez, will be facing child abuse charges for what the children have gone through and is scheduled for trial in August.
Defense and Prosecution's Arguments
Defense attorney Joseph Carver argued that Elizabeth Archibeque was the dominant figure in the couple's relationship and that Anthony Martinez did not make independent decisions regarding the children.
However, prosecutor Michael Tunink presented evidence that pointed to Martinez's active role in the abusive conditions the boys endured.
According to the Flagstaff police, the tragic events came to light on March 2, 2020, when the children's paternal grandmother, Ann Martinez, called 911 after discovering Deshaun unresponsive.
The police found that the boy had been confined to a closet for extensive periods with his 7-year-old brother, who survived but weighed just 28 pounds (12.7 kilograms) at the time.
Disturbing Details of Abuse Emerge
Further investigations revealed the appalling conditions the boys were subjected to. The closet where the children were kept was lined with an orange plastic sheet that emitted a strong smell of urine.
The boys were given minimal food, only oatmeal and bread for breakfast and lunch. Anthony Martinez admitted to ensuring the boys remained in the closet by sitting outside and playing video games.
Initially, Archibeque and Martinez claimed their sons' malnourished state was due to a medical condition and the ingestion of diet or caffeine pills.
However, the evidence presented in court disproved these claims. Authorities confirmed that while Deshaun and his brother were severely malnourished and mistreated, the couple's two daughters, aged 2 and 4 at the time, were found to be healthy and well-nourished.
Ann Martinez, the grandmother, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to child abuse, including disciplining the boys with a coat hanger. Her trial is set for August.
The surviving brother has since recovered after spending nearly three weeks in the hospital. This harrowing case has shed light on the extreme neglect and abuse that led to Deshaun Martinez's tragic death and brought to justice those responsible.
