GUILTY CO - Phenia Martinez, 25, pregnant, Pueblo, 5 Jan 2015

[steelman]

I'm thinking the baby probably wasn't his anyway, and he knew it. The acting of stabbing her in the torso and the back was as much of an act to kill the infant as it was to kill her. Just pure rage by a jealous, hateful person.

I know her previous husband died recently, don't know if maybe it was his baby she was carrying or not, haven't cross-checked dates at this point.

 

[lovinlife83]

In 1994, it seems our suspect, Mr. Romero, has unsuccessfully done this before...

http://www.chiefads.com/import/memo...04c-35e6-5a00-b654-480e6d7e98bf.html?mode=jqm

ETA: He was apprehended in November 1994 (five months later) in California then transferred back to Pueblo City County Jail. I couldn't find his jail records and look to some super-sleuthers for help on that front.

I can't get the link to work

 

[Treelights]

http://www.kktv.com/news/pueblo/headlines/Police-Looking-For-Missing-Mother-288091381.html


" "She never went and picked up the kids on Monday evening [Jan. 5] after school...I was just concerned and I just thought, 'Maybe she had to get away for the day.'"

But Martinez never got in touch with her family on Jan. 5, and then on Jan. 6 she again was nowhere to be found. Worried, Sifuentes said she called police on Wednesday and asked them to do a welfare check. But she says officers never came. "
Snipped by me...
" Gonzales said that officers did go to Martinez's apartment on Jan. 7 after they got the request for a welfare check, but when officers knocked--but no one answered. "
More at link above.

 

[Treelights]

Phenia was pregnant with a baby boy, per the link I posted above.
RIP to both Phenia and the baby boy!
Also, Phenia's mom says that the neighbors heard yelling and screaming on Monday morning,
but that they didn't want to get involved.
So sad!

 

[MamaJoJo]

I can't get the link to work

Try taking off what comes after ".html"

Meaning, it might work if you delete "?mode=jqm"

 

[Treelights]

Good find. This young girl had no idea what type of man she was involved with, and if she did, it was due to the "gangster" lifestyle he led. I doubt if it was because he was a smooth talking, caring individual.

http://www.koaa.com/story/27844377/family-and-friends-remember-phenia-martinez

This article makes mention that the news wasn't a shock to Phenia's mom, as the realization of her fear she was hoping would not
come true.

" "I knew it was possible just by knowing the individual she was with, I knew it was possible. But I had hoped that it wasn't," said Sifuentes. "

 

[steelman]

"JC" John Curtis Garreaux, Jr. Age 24
(November 6, 1988 - October 30, 2013)

This is where he met Phenia Martinez and his 1st daughter Aliona Garreaux was born on Sept. of 2006. He then moved to Pueblo, CO for about 6 months then upon returning home he worked in Eagle Butte helping construct the Medicine Wheel Village. Then he moved to Pierre and worked at Christenson Farms and Jake's Steakhouse and, in July of 2008 his 2nd daughter Ariona Garreaux was born. He moved back home and continued to work construction either as a flagger and driving the packer until construction on the new I.H.S. housing started where he obtained his apprentice electric license.

http://www.keslingfuneralhome.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2312467


Her husband died Oct. 2013--- That would have been approx. 15 months ago. The baby she was carrying could not have been his. They would have literally been kids themselves when their first baby was born, (16-17 Y.O.)

How she went from being with this hard working guy to the monster she ended up with is anybodies guess.

 

[sallye818]

I just want everyone to watch this video.

http://www.koaa.com/clip/11028334/search-for-missing-pregnant-woman-continues


Keep in mind, during the entire time that all of these people were being interviewed, the cops, the neighbor, the relatives....she was lying up in her apartment dead. They even did a screen shot of her apartment...I don't get it.

They rent this place, they don't own it. Why couldn't they have had the manager unlock the door so they could do a welfare check ?


If it was my daughter that was missing, I would just kick the door down and see what the hell was going on inside of those living quarters....go ahead and ticket me for trespassing.

Good for you, steelman!!!!!!!! You sound like me and my husband. We need more people like you, IMHO, and these things wouldn't happen as often. Take these abusing men out behind the barn like they used to in the old "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke" days and teach 'em a lesson. REAL men don't beat and kill women and children.

 

[sallye818]

"JC" John Curtis Garreaux, Jr. Age 24
(November 6, 1988 - October 30, 2013)



http://www.keslingfuneralhome.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2312467


Her husband died Oct. 2013--- That would have been approx. 15 months ago. The baby she was carrying could not have been his. They would have literally been kids themselves when their first baby was born, (16-17 Y.O.)

How she went from being with this hard working guy to the monster she ended up with is anybodies guess.

Yep, I posted that obit earlier and was thinking the same thing. He at least was a hardworker and it sounds like a family man. I still am not sure if the other two children were with Phenia or other family members.

 

[sallye818]

And thank you sallye818. I don't know what I did to deserve that, but you made me smile when I needed it most.


Just admire your heartfelt compassion for so many victims on this board -- you bless me!

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/Murder-Suspect-Arrested-288783761.html

The suspect wanted for the death of Phenia Martinez has been arrested. Police say Joseph Romero turned himself in around 7:30, Thursday night.

 

[steelman]

It's too bad he gave himself up......from everything I've read about this guy, going out in a hail of bullets would have been a much better outcome.......for everybody.

 

[Treelights]

http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/Murder-Suspect-Arrested-288783761.html

Thanks for the article!
I am glad he is OFF the streets!!
May justice be served for Phenia and her unborn son!

 

[steelman]

Dozens of court papers show Romero has a history of abusing women. One accuser, an ex-girlfriend, alleges Romero threatened to kill her back in 2000. When she wanted to get a restraining order against him, she says he told her not to bother because the police are so slow, she will be dead before they can help her. That case was later dismissed when the victim didn't show up in court to testify against him.

Another case dating back to 1989 shows Romero sexually assaulted a minor. The case was later dismissed after he agreed to plead guilty to a first-degree assault case. That case says Romero used a knife to seriously injure a man. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

In an article published by the Pueblo Chieftain in 1994, Romero's girlfriend at the time says he stabbed her 13 times. The victim claims she was stabbed with a knife and possibly a screwdriver all over her body. The woman says “he would always make me think that I was going to die.”

Now according to police, Romero allegedly murdered his most recent girlfriend who was pregnant with his child


http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/Murder-Suspect-Arrested-288783761.html



Nobody in the legal system could see this coming ? Seems to me like this is exactly the type of person that prisons were designed for.

 

[MamaJoJo]

Dozens of court papers show Romero has a history of abusing women. One accuser, an ex-girlfriend, alleges Romero threatened to kill her back in 2000. When she wanted to get a restraining order against him, she says he told her not to bother because the police are so slow, she will be dead before they can help her. That case was later dismissed when the victim didn't show up in court to testify against him.

Another case dating back to 1989 shows Romero sexually assaulted a minor. The case was later dismissed after he agreed to plead guilty to a first-degree assault case. That case says Romero used a knife to seriously injure a man. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

In an article published by the Pueblo Chieftain in 1994, Romero's girlfriend at the time says he stabbed her 13 times. The victim claims she was stabbed with a knife and possibly a screwdriver all over her body. The woman says “he would always make me think that I was going to die.”

Now according to police, Romero allegedly murdered his most recent girlfriend who was pregnant with his child


http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/Murder-Suspect-Arrested-288783761.html



Nobody in the legal system could see this coming ? Seems to me like this is exactly the type of person that prisons were designed for.

Thanks for this list, Steel. Romero is one sick mf. The woman's account of the 1994 stabbing (linked up thread) is one of the most harrowing, sadistic assaults I've read about. I know it happens but to hear how terrified she was, for months, thinking he was coming back to finish the job really hit me. Poor Phenia.

 

[Treelights]

http://www.co.pueblo.co.us/cgi-bin/webpurbroker.wsc/inmatesrch2.html
http://www.co.pueblo.co.us/cgi-bin/webpurbroker.wsc/inmateoff.html?name=143

The bond is a million dollars.

 

[Treelights]

Recap with some photos of Phenia and also her apartment building as well...

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2015/01/phenia_martinez_murder_joseph_romero_pueblo.php

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.fox21news.com/news/story.aspx?id=1150481#.VLmk_sbhoWc

Sifuentes expressed “strong concern for Phenia’s welfare,” according to the affidavit. Martinez was eight and a half months pregnant, reportedly with Romero’s child. Sifuentes told police Martinez had used illicit drugs, and referred to Romero as "her drug dealer.” Sifuentes said Martinez had not been using drugs while she was pregnant.

Then, on January 12, officers interviewed one of Martinez’s daughters at her elementary school. The daughter, who was aware of her mom’s disappearance, told police she was woken up by her mom and Romero fighting early in the morning January 5. The daughter told police she heard Romero tell her mom that he was going to “kill her.” She also said that she had seen her mom “socked up” with two black eyes before... The daughter also told police about a gun and knife that Romero keeps in a closet...

Police interviewed the next-door neighbor, who told them Martinez and Romero had been yelling and fighting “worse than usual” January 4 and 5. The afternoon of January 5, the neighbor spoke to Romero outside of the apartment. Romero reportedly asked the neighbor if he had heard the fighting. When the neighbor said yes, Romero said, “Look what she did to me.” The neighbor saw scratches on Romero’s face and neck, according to the affidavit.

See affidavit here: http://www.fox21news.com/uploadedFiles/kxrm/2-SKMBT_55215011615370.compressed.pdf

 

[Treelights]

http://www.fox21news.com/news/story.aspx?id=1150481#.VLmk_sbhoWc



See affidavit here: http://www.fox21news.com/uploadedFiles/kxrm/2-SKMBT_55215011615370.compressed.pdf

Thank you again, this time for your link to this article.

What makes me sad is the fact that her children were around this type of abuse and witnessed their mom with black eyes previously.
I hope the children get the counseling they so deserve so that when they grow up, they will know it is NOT ACCEPTABLE to be with a man that beats them up; that they will know the difference that there are GOOD MEN OUT IN THIS WORLD, and that they don't have to put up with ANY abuse period, that they can choose a different life and they need not feel that they HAVE TO stay in an abusive relationship.
Leave at the sign of the FIRST abuse, in my opinion. Or better yet, Leave when there are signs that there Will be abuse.( I know it is easier said than done for some people.)

For Phenia, it was too late; she wanted to leave, and he killed her, in my opinion. (I say that he killed her because a person is innocent until proven guilty, so therefore I have to say it is my opinion, but come on, I hope he gets what he deserves!!)

IMOO.

 

[Treelights]

"Funeral Service Held For Mother Stabbed To Death."

"Hundreds gathered Wednesday to pay their final respects as a slain mother was laid to rest."

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Funeral-Service-Held-For-Mother-Stabbed-To-Death-289443161.html