Plea deal sends Martinez to ADC for Luker murder
Judge sentences subject to 40 years for 2022 killing of elderly woman
A Forrest City man was sentenced to prison today for the cold-blooded killing of an elderly woman last year near Madison.
Nathaniel Martinez, 21, appeared before Judge Chris Morledge in St. Francis County Circuit Court this morning, pleading guilty to first-degree murder and residential burglary in the death of Virginia Luker, 75.
Luker was found dead on the bedroom floor of her home in the St. Francis Heights area on April 10, 2022, having been shot multiple times after Martinez reportedly gained entry into her residence by breaking out a window on the front door.
Martinez originally faced felony charges of capital murder, attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, first-degree terroristic threatening and possession of firearm by certain person, along with enhancement charges of felony with firearm and habitual offender.
During the hearing this morning, the capital murder charge was amended to firstdegree murder to which he pleaded guilty. The aggravated residential burglary charge was amended to residential burglary with the remaining charges nolle prosequi.
Morledge sentenced Martinez to 40 years in prison for Luker’s murder and 10 years for the burglary, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Luker’s murder reportedly stemmed from an ongoing domestic dispute between
Martinez and one of Luker’s grandsons over a woman with whom both reportedly had a relationship.
It occurred less than a week after a murder in Forrest City during which Martinez was present.
On April 4 last year, Martinez was driving a pickup in which Steidman Smith, 27, was shot and killed while sitting outside an apartment complex on South Washington Street.
Police reported a single gunshot was fired through the truck’s back glass, striking Smith in the back of the head. At that time, police said Smith did not appear to have been involved in the dispute that led to his death.
After the shooting, Martinez fled the scene in the pickup, which police found about a block away on East St. Andrews Street with him and Smith still inside.
Martinez was already on probation when these incidents occurred, according to court records.
Previously, he pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault and possession of a controlled substance for which he was sentenced to five years probation. Charges of discharging a firearm in the city limits, no driver’s license and carrying a weapon were nolle prosequi.