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Murdered 10-Year-Old Victoria Martens’ Death Spawns #JusticeforVictoria As Community Rallies And Reels [Video]

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 18:43 PST, Aug 26, 2016

The death of murdered Albuquerque 10-year-old Victoria Martens has spawned outrage, an outpouring of internet support and widespread grief in New Mexico and around the world. Victoria Martens was found dead in the apartment she shared with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend on Wednesday morning the day after Victoria’s 10th birthday, reports KTLA. It was then that local first responders arrived at her home in response to reports that a crazed relative had gone on an unprovoked beating spree, forcing murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens’ mother and boyfriend to flee the house, leaving 10-year-old Victoria behind, unprotected and endangered.

At least that was the story that 35-year-old Michelle Martens and 31-year-old Fabian Gonzales initially told law enforcement.

It was far from the truth, according to Albuquerque police. What first responders discovered at the horrific crime scene was the most gruesome thing many of them had ever seen. When the initial investigation into the the death of murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens was completed, three people would end up behind bars in connection with her torture, sexual assault, drugging, death and dismemberment, including her own mother.

When police arrived at the apartment, they found a third suspect, the alleged “crazed relative” that had purportedly beaten Victoria Martens’ mom and her boyfriend. That woman was later identified as 31-year-old Jessica Kelley, a cousin of Gonzales who had just been released from prison.

“What happened to this little girl is… Horrific. It’s one of the worst things I’ve read in my entire life.”

First responders also found blood all over murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens’ bedroom and smelled smoke. Then they made the most heartbreaking discovery of all: Victoria’s dismembered body. Part of which was reportedly wrapped in a burning blanket in a bathtub, while more had been wrapped in plastic and tossed into a hamper like refuse.

Jessica Kelley reportedly tried to escape the scene of the brutal slaying by jumping from a balcony, but she was apprehended by first responders who took her to a hospital for undisclosed reasons. She was ultimately released on Friday afternoon and charged with child abuse, kidnapping, murder and child rape.

Traumatized authorities who investigated the death of murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens discovered that the child’s last few hours were so torturous, even seasoned law enforcement officials were moved to tears when they spoke to the media. And what’s worse, according to the investigators, Victoria Martens’ own mother was directly involved in the torture, sexual assault, murder and dismemberment of her own 10-year-old daughter.

According to the criminal complaint filed against 10-year-old Victoria Martens’ mother and her boyfriend, the boyfriend Fabian Gonzales and his cousin Jessica Kelley had plans to sexually assault the little girl, who had just turned ten but was supposed to celebrate her birthday the next afternoon. Law enforcement alleges that while her mother looked on and did nothing to protect her, Victoria Martens was forcibly injected with methamphetamine to “calm her down” so that the pair could sexually assault the child.

After the sexual assault, Gonzales and Kelley reportedly murdered Victoria. According to the criminal complaint, Michelle Martens told investigators that Fabian Gonzales strangled her daughter while Jessica Kelley stabbed her in the abdomen.

Following her death, the murdered 10-year-old was dismembered. Police officers allege that when her remains were found, both of her arms were severed and her left leg was also almost completely detached from the rest of her body.

Reportedly, it was Kelley that dismembered the murdered 10-year-old girl.

Both Michelle Martens and her boyfriend Fabian Gonzales have been charged for the parts they allegedly played in the murder of 10-year-old Victoria. Martens has reportedly been charged with kidnapping and child abuse resulting in death. Gonzales has been charged with the same, in addition to child rape. Both are being held at the Bernalillo County Jail on $1 million bond.

Following the news that 10-year-old Victoria Martens had been so brutally and senselessly tortured and murdered, the local Albuquerque community came together to hold multiple vigils. The first was held at Victoria’s apartment complex, and it was an homage to the birthday party she never got to celebrate as well as a commemoration of the little girl’s tragically short life.

Another vigil for murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens was held by Mayor Richard Berry, reports KRQE. During the media-friendly event, he offered his condolences to the community, expressed his outrage at the terrible crime (which is being called one of the worst in the history of Albuquerque) and reminded locals to contact authorities if they suspect child abuse is taking place.

A memorial for Victoria Martens also sprung up near her home and the scene of her death, and has grown exponentially since Wednesday as mourners drop off balloons, toys, flowers and notes.

Murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens had also recently begun 4th grade at Petroglyph Elementary School, which left Albuquerque public schools scrambling to explain to her classmates what had happened to their young friend. The district reportedly sent out a letter to parents and students, posted a memorial on their website and has offered grief counseling services for students impacted by the death of murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens.

“Our hearts ache today for little Victoria and all who love her including her classmates and the staff and families at Petroglyph Elementary. We cherish and protect our students and, like the rest of Albuquerque, are having a hard time wrapping our heads around the fact that someone could treat one of them so horrifically. Victoria is in our thoughts and prayers as we hold our children just a little tighter on this sad day.”

Thousands of people not local to the Albuquerque area have shared their grief and outrage over Victoria Marten’s murder as well. Many have taken to social media to share their condolences and demand justice for the 10-year-old in the form of the hashtag #JusticeforVictoria.

Reportedly, the social media accounts of those implicated in the death of the murdered girl have been blasted by people all over the world venting their feelings and calling for the guilty to be punished.

An official GoFundMe account has also been set up in memory of murdered 10-year-old Victoria Martens; reportedly all proceeds are to go to a college fund for her surviving 8-year-old brother.

[Photo by Russell Contreras/AP Images]

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