Arizona man gets life sentence on murder conviction in starvation death of 6-year-old son
SUMMARY
A northern Arizona man, Anthony Martinez, 28, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 starvation death of his 6-year-old son, Deshaun Martinez. In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, Martinez received additional prison sentences for child abuse and kidnapping related to Deshaun and an older sibling, along with three years for aggravated assault. Martinez, who declined to speak in court, apologized in a letter read by his defense attorney. Presiding Judge Ted Reed described the crimes as heinous and cruel, noting Martinez’s traumatic childhood but emphasizing his position of trust as the children's father.
