Jerry Lee Martinez is accused of raping his teenage daughter and getting her pregnant before driving her to Mexico for an abortion – she later delivered the stillborn baby in a Walmart bathroom
A dad has been accused of impregnating his teenage daughter before driving her to Mexico for an abortion. The youngster later gave birth to a stillborn infant discovered in the trash at a Walmart bathroom.
Texas officials say Jerry Lee Martinez, 45, now faces a sexual assault of a child charge. Jail records show he was previously charged with abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence along with tampering with a witness and tampering with physical evidence.
Local ABC affiliate KIII obtained an arrest affidavit that said Martinez’s daughter told detectives that her father began “touching her inappropriately” when she was 15. The affidavit reportedly alleged that Martinez assaulted the minor several times over the last two years and she became pregnant with his child, Law & Crime reports.
When he learned the girl was pregnant, Martinez repeatedly punched her in the stomach, according to cops. He drove the girl to Mexico to have an abortion
She allegedly delivered a stillborn in the Walmart bathroom in Kingsville that night and then threw the child in the trash.
Walmart employees found the baby and called police, who later spotted Martinez and the teen and stopped their vehicle. Martinez was arrested while the girl was taken to a “secure location,” cops said.
Local NBC affiliate KRIS reported that Martinez’s stepfather, 60-year-old Mario Duran, is also facing sexual assault charges.
Meanwhile, Walmart employees conducted lifesaving efforts on the baby, who was taken to hopsital where doctors pronounced the infant dead, according to a press release.
CCTV footage allegedly showed the girl walking into the bathroom before reemerging 40 minutes later and heading to the car park. It was another 30 minutes after that that the baby was discovered.
A few hours later, officers spotted the teen’s vehicle and stopped her and Martinez.
Police said in a statement: “We extend our deepest condolences to all affected by this tragic event.”
Martinez remains in the Kleberg County Jail on a $600,000 bond.
