Arizona Father Anthony Martinez Sentenced to Life for Starving 6-Year-Old Son, Locking Him in Closet for 16 Hours Daily

A northern Arizona man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 starvation death of his 6-year-old son, as decided in court proceedings. 

Anthony Martinez, 28, received a life sentence on Friday for first-degree murder, with additional sentences for child abuse and kidnapping related to the deceased child and his older sibling.

The Coconino County judge imposed cumulative sentences of three years for two aggravated assault convictions. These sentences may be served concurrently or credited against time already served.

According to the Arizona Daily Sun, Martinez chose not to speak during the court hearing. 

However, his defense attorney read a letter he wrote to his children, apologizing “for all the things I put you through.”

Martinez's legal representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Presiding Judge Ted Reed highlighted the aggravating factors in the case, describing the crimes as particularly heinous and cruel. 

He noted that Martinez was in a position of trust as the children's father. 

The judge also acknowledged Martinez's traumatic childhood and lack of prior felony convictions.

Authorities revealed that Deshaun Martinez, the boy who died, was locked in a small bedroom closet for 16 hours a day for a month, along with his older brother. 

This was their parents' punishment for stealing food at night.

An autopsy revealed that Deshaun weighed only 18 pounds at the time of his death, significantly below the average for his age. 

The manner of death was determined to be homicide.

Elizabeth Archibeque, the boy’s mother, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse. She was sentenced in July 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

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