Modesto Police Also Sought Suspect In 5 Murders For October Death Of 2-Year-Old Boy
MODESTO (CBS13) — A suspect in the deaths of five people in a Modesto home, including his own infant, is also a suspect in the death of another young boy.
Modesto Police said they got word from a forensic pathologist on Thursday—two days before five people were found dead inside a Modesto home—that the October 2014 death of Christopher Ripley, 2, was the result of blunt force trauma.
The man who police say was watching Ripley at the time, Martin Martinez, was arrested Sunday in San Jose for Ripley's death.
Two women and three children were found murdered inside a home on Nob Hill Court in Modesto on Saturday.
Police say there was no indication the family with small children was in any danger before Saturday. There were no calls to service at the address, and police say Martinez had maintained a relationship with one of the victims, Dr. Amanda Crews.
Nine months earlier, Crews' 2-year-old son was rushed to the hospital with head injuries while Martinez was watching him alone. Ripley died two days later.
On Thursday, police say a forensic expert called Modesto Police with her findings.
"Chris died of a homicide of blunt-force trauma; it was not an accident," said Chief Galen Carroll.
Saturday's homicides were discovered after a friend called for a welfare check after Crews didn't show up for a scheduled lunch date.
Along with Crews, Martinez's mother Anna Brown Romero, Martinez's 6-month-old daughter, Crews' older daughter and a 5-year-old relative at the home for a family event were found dead.
"At that time there was no indication there were would be any violence in that family, there were no calls for service at that location," Carroll said.
Martinez was found early Sunday morning leaving a movie theater with his father.
Police did not reveal how the five victims were killed or a motive, and said the forensics expert's report was only known to a limited group in the police department.
Modesto Police say child protective services were involved in the investigation.
Martinez has not been charged in the weekend homicides and is only called a suspect at this time.
A candlelight vigil will be held at Standiford Park starting at 6 p.m. on Monday.
