In a harrowing case out of South Texas, authorities allege a father raped his 17-year-old daughter, leading to a pregnancy that ended with a stillbirth in a Walmart restroom after he took her to Mexico for an abortion.
Jerry Lee Martinez, 45, of Mathis, faces multiple charges, including sexual assault of a child, abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence, tampering with a witness, and tampering with physical evidence. His bond has been set at $1.3 million.
According to an arrest affidavit, Martinez’s daughter disclosed to detectives that her father began sexually assaulting her when she was 15 and that the abuse continued for two years, resulting in her pregnancy with his child. The affidavit further alleges that upon learning of the pregnancy, Martinez physically assaulted her by repeatedly punching her in the stomach.
The teen told investigators that her father had taken her to Mexico for an abortion on the day the stillbirth occurred. That evening, she delivered the stillborn baby in a Walmart bathroom in Kingsville and disposed of the infant in a trash can.
Walmart employees discovered the baby and alerted the police. Despite lifesaving efforts by the employees and subsequent transportation to a local hospital, the infant was pronounced dead.
Law enforcement utilized surveillance footage, which showed the 17-year-old entering the restroom and remaining inside for about 40 minutes. Officers later located and stopped a vehicle occupied by Martinez and his daughter. Martinez was arrested, and the teen was taken to a secure location.
In a related development, Martinez’s 60-year-old stepfather, Mario Duran, has also been arrested and charged with sexual assault. He is being held on a $300,000 bond.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the Texas Rangers assisting local law enforcement. Kingsville is located approximately 45 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, while the Martinez family resides in Mathis, about 50 miles north of Kingsville. In a statement, police expressed their “deepest condolences to all affected by this tragic event.”
