A 33-year-old man from Georgia and his 34-year-old wife are facing years in prison for a horrific incident that took place two years ago. They were babysitting their friends' 2-year-old daughter, Valeria Jordan Garfias, and it ended in tragedy.
In a heart-wrenching case, a 33-year-old man and his 34-year-old wife, residents of Georgia, have been sentenced to prison for brutally beating their friends' 2-year-old daughter to death while babysitting her in 2021. The Hall County Superior Court Judge, Jason J. Deal, issued a ruling on Monday, ordering Juan Martinez to serve 29 years and Nancy Martinez to serve eight years for the gruesome killing of young Valeria Jordan Garfias. This tragic incident has left the community in shock.
Reports suggest that Juan Martinez became furious after Valeria had an accident on a chair and, in a fit of rage, struck the young child multiple times, ultimately causing her death. Tragically, Nancy Martinez, who was not present during the fatal beating, failed to call 911 upon her return and knowingly participated in covering up the circumstances surrounding the child's death.
Lee Darragh, the district attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, expressed the difficulty of the case, noting, "One or both of Nancy and Juan Martinez were directly responsible for the murder of this child, but the evidence available led to a resolution of pleas to lesser charges." Darragh also praised Judge Deal for his careful consideration of the sentences, emphasizing the importance of holding the couple accountable for their actions.
Juan Martinez entered an Alford plea to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in Valeria's death, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. An Alford plea involves a defendant not explicitly admitting guilt but acknowledging that the state has sufficient evidence for a conviction, equivalent to a guilty plea. In addition to downgrading the initial felony murder charge, prosecutors also dropped counts of first and second-degree child cruelty.
Nancy Martinez, initially facing the same three felony charges as her husband, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree child cruelty, carrying a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison. Both Juan and Nancy Martinez received credit for just over two years of time served since their arrest in October 2021.
During the sentencing hearing, about 25 people attended to support the couple, many of whom spoke on their behalf. Witnesses reiterated that, before the tragic event, the couple had treated Valeria like their own child, and she considered them her second set of parents. However, Judge Deal remained firm, pointing out that the couple's lack of seeking medical attention for Valeria and their repeated dishonesty about the incident were undeniable.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Bagwell described the child's murder as "a horrific betrayal" and shared Juan Martinez's admission to investigators regarding his actions. She recounted, "At the very end of this interview, he tells the investigators that he was angry because Valeria wet her diaper and poop came out on the chair at the table, and that she was supposed to let them know when she had to go potty. (He said) that he got mad and just hit her on the head."
As previously reported, on October 10, 2021, Hall County Fire Services responded to a distress call at the couple's residence. Despite efforts to save her, Valeria was flown to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead from her injuries. The hospital staff alerted HSCO detectives due to the nature of the injuries, indicating that they were non-accidental. A subsequent autopsy confirmed Valeria's death as a homicide, resulting from traumatic brain injury and other internal injuries to the child's body.
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