Police in Utah are searching for Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, who is accused of strangling his 25-year-old daughter, Marbella Martinez, a sheriff’s deputy. Martinez-Ayala faces charges of murder, stalking, obstruction of justice, and unlawful possession of identifying documents. Marbella was found dead in August at their home in Tooele, just months after joining the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities allege that Martinez-Ayala fled the country after using Marbella’s bank card to withdraw cash and sent text messages to his brother admitting to committing an “unforgivable sin.” The father-daughter relationship was described as increasingly obsessed and controlling, with Martinez-Ayala even placing a tracking device in Marbella’s vehicle to monitor her whereabouts.
Martinez-Ayala disabled surveillance cameras at their home before his daughter’s death, and then disposed of her cellphone before flying to San Francisco and Houston using his twin brother’s identification. His current whereabouts are unknown, with police suspecting he may be in a different country.
Marbella was described as a cherished friend and dedicated member of the Sheriff’s Office, and her tragic death has been mourned by colleagues and friends. No attorney for Martinez-Ayala has been listed in court records, and the investigation into Marbella’s death is ongoing.
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