Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Judge: Murder suspect fit to stand trial
BENTONVILLE — A Springdale man is fit to stand trial in connection with the death of a baby, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Edward Alexis MartinezTorres, 22, is charged with capital murder in connection with the death of a 3-monthold boy. Martinez-Torres previously pleaded not guilty. He is being held in the Benton County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
A mental evaluation has determined Martinez-Torres is fit to stand trial. Drew Ledbetter, Martinez-Torres’ attorney, did not contest the findings.
A jury trial is set to begin Dec. 19 in Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green’s courtroom. Pre-trial hearings are scheduled for Sept. 18 and Dec. 18.
Bethel Heights police and medical personnel went to 2923 Kings Drive on June 9, 2016, for an emergency call of a baby not breathing, according court documents.
The child — referred to as “J.R.” in the redacted probable cause affidavit — was taken to Northwest Medical Center-Springdale and later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Children’s Hospital doctors determined the baby suffered a skull fracture, according to the affidavit. An autopsy found the skull fracture was caused by non-impact compressive force, according to court documents.
Martinez-Torres, who was baby-sitting, said he was in the kitchen preparing food and the child was in the bedroom crying, according to the affidavit. Martinez-Torres was dating the boy’s mother, Kanchana Montero, according to court documents.
Martinez-Torres said he couldn’t get the baby to stop crying. He told police he slapped the baby in the face with an open hand, then grabbed him by the forehead, “palming and squeezing” it while pushing his head down into the mattress, according to the affidavit.
Martinez-Torres could be sentenced to life imprisonment without the benefit of parole if convicted. Prosecutors aren’t seeking the death penalty.