The “obsessed” father of a Utah sheriff’s deputy who was found dead last month has been charged in her murder — which he allegedly described as “an unforgivable sin” before stealing his twin brother’s ID to flee the country.
Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, was charged Friday after the body of his daughter, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Marbella Martinez, 25, was found in the family’s Tooele home during an Aug. 1 welfare check, according to Fox 13.
Texts from the “obsessed and controlling dad” were “more of the nature of a jealous lover than a father,” investigators said.
In February, Martinez found a bag of her underwear in her father’s room, KSL reported.
Investigators said he also placed a tracking device and hidden camera on his daughter’s car in July to track her while she was on vacation with a love interest, the outlet added.
Martinez-Ayala is believed to have strangled his daughter, a corrections officer with the SLCSO, on July 31.
“My brother, you know much I love you, I made a big mistake, an unforgivable sin, now I’m too scared and I don’t know what to do. I think I will never come back,” the disturbed dad allegedly texted his twin on July 31 — before using his brother’s ID to leave the country.
His whereabouts are unknown.
A recent academy graduate, Martinez became a corrections officer on Jan. 11.
“In her short time with us, she became a cherished friend and an integral part of our team,” Sheriff Rosie Rivera said in a Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook announcement.
Charges against Martinez-Ayala include murder, stalking and obstructing justice.
