Victoria Martens turned 10 years old on August 23, 2016. Sadly, she also died that day. Investigators found her body at the home she shared with her mother, 35-year-old Michelle Martens. Victoria’s mother, her boyfriend, 31-year-old Fabian Gonzales, and his 31-year-old cousin, Jessica Kelley, all participated in the child’s death. Her official cause of death was strangulation, but she endured horrific abuse before they dismembered her body, set her on fire, and wrapped her in a blanket. Police arrested all three at the scene, and many hoped Victoria would get justice in death. Instead, a court just released her mother from jail.
Per The Mirror, Martens watched as Gonzales sexually assaulted and murdered Victoria and did nothing to stop him. Kelley reportedly dismembered the child. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, Martens looked for men online to assault her daughter. She agreed to a plea deal in 2018, accepting one count of child abuse resulting in death.
According to The Mirror, a court sentenced Gonzales to 37 years in prison for child abuse resulting in death and for evidence tampering. Kelley received a 44-year sentence for several charges, including reckless child abuse resulting in death. Martens received just 12 years in prison. A judge released her in October.
“This was one of the most horrific murders in recent memory in Albuquerque,” KOAT legal expert John Day told the news outlet.
Martens spent just nine years in prison, getting credit for time served. “She’s supposed to do 12 years, but she gets out now because she’s basically done her time,” Day explained.
The news of Marten’s release angered many people who thought she should remain in prison for not protecting her child. Many aired their frustration on Facebook.
“I don’t think that there is any prayer that will save her. All mommas protect your child even if it costs your life,” one person wrote. “Thank you Jesus for all the momma’s whom love their children to no end, and protects them from evil.”
Others want justice. “She don’t deserve freedom, Victoria didn’t. She took her freedom,” someone else wrote.
“So where’s is Victoria does she get a second chance???????” another person agreed.
The Victoria Martens Voice Facebook page claims that following the release, Martens entered a protection program. We’re not sure if that’s true, but she admitted to abusing her child. She went to prison, but was she there long enough? Her daughter had no protection — why should she?
