A five-year search for answers in the disappearance of a pregnant 16-year-old has reached a pivotal legal turning point. Joshua Martinez, 28, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the 2019 vanishing of Victoria Marquina, California authorities announced Monday.
The indictment, handed down by a San Joaquin County grand jury, includes four felony counts against Martinez. The charges follow years of multi-jurisdictional investigation into a case that spanned three California counties and led investigators as far as Mexico.
The Disappearance and Investigation
Victoria Marquina, a high school student from Amador County, was reported missing by her mother in October 2019. According to San Joaquin District Attorney Ron Freitas, Marquina had entered into what he described as a “whirlwind” one-month relationship with Martinez shortly before she disappeared. At the time, Marquina was 16 and pregnant; Martinez was 23.
Marquina was last seen on October 9, 2019, in Livingston, Merced County. Four days later, her vehicle was discovered abandoned in Escalon—more than 50 miles from her home. While her phone and car were recovered in San Joaquin County, the teenager was nowhere to be found.
Following the disappearance, Martinez fled to Mexico. He was eventually extradited back to the United States and questioned in 2020. During that interrogation, Martinez claimed he met Marquina on a dating app and alleged she lied about her age. He maintained at the time that he had dropped her off safely in Sutter Creek.
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A Quest for Remains
Despite the murder charges, the location of Marquina’s body remains a mystery. Authorities confirmed on Monday that the investigation has transitioned into a recovery mission.
“Victoria is dead, and we are looking for her remains and the remains of her unborn child,” District Attorney Freitas stated during a press conference. “We need closure for the family. We are asking anyone with information regarding the location of her remains to come forward.”
Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe credited the “tenacious pursuit of justice” by investigators and the “unyielding love” of Marquina’s mother, Blanca Valencia, for keeping the case active.
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Impact and Next Steps
For Valencia, the indictment brings a somber mixture of hope and grief. “She had many dreams. Unfortunately, someone cut us off,” Valencia told reporters, adding that she believed her daughter would have been a college graduate by now.
Martinez is currently being held without bail at the San Joaquin County Jail. If convicted on the murder charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is scheduled for his next court appearance on April 6.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case or the location of Victoria Marquina to contact the San Joaquin or Amador County Sheriff’s Offices.
