Arizona man gets life sentence on murder conviction in starvation death of 6-year-old son

FLAGMASFF, Ariz. — A northern Arizona man has been sentenced to life in prison on convictions including first-degree murder in the 2020 starvation death of his 6-year-old son, court records show.

A Coconino County judge sentenced Anthony Martinez, 28, to life in prison on Friday murder convictionwith additional prison sentences in connection with convictions for child abuse and kidnapping of the deceased child and an older sibling.

In addition, cumulative sentences of three years in prison were added to two aggravated assault convictions, which may be served concurrently or credited toward time served.

The This was reported by the Arizona Daily Sun that Martinez refused to speak during the court hearing, but wrote a letter to his children that was read by a lawyer, apologizing “for everything I have done to you.”

Presiding Judge Ted Reed cited aggravating factors in sentencing Martinez, describing the crimes as particularly heinous and cruel, given that Martinez held a position of trust as the children’s father. The judge also acknowledged that Martinez had suffered a traumatic childhood and had no prior convictions for a crime.

Authorities say the deceased boy, Deshaun Martinez, was locked in a small bedroom closet with his older brother for 16 hours a day for a month as punishment for stealing food from the house at night while their parents slept.

An autopsy showed that the boy weighed only 18 pounds (8.1 kilograms) when he died—well below average for his age. The manner of death was listed as homicide.

The boy’s mother, Elisabeth Archibequepleaded guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse and was sentenced in July 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.