Mother of 10-year-old 'searched for men to rape and kill her daughter'
Michelle Martens, 35, is currently being held in prison on a $1 million bond
The mother of a 10-year-old girl found dead actively searched for men to rape her daughter, police in Albuquerque Police recently announced.
Michelle Martens, the girl’s 35-year-old mother, told investigators that she sought out men online dating websites and at her place of employment, the Albuquerque Journal reports. Police said that she willingly admit that she didn’t do it for money, she did it because she enjoyed watching.
“Michelle said ‘yeah’ when asked if she would agree with them over the internet or over the phone that they would come over and have sex with her children,” one investigator outlined in court documents.
One man she met online, Fabian Gonzales, 31, allegedly raped, killed and dismembered the young girl with the help of his cousin. The mother also admitted to giving her daughter methamphetamine to calm her down before Mr Gonzales raped and choked to death. However, Mr Gonzales denies the accusation.
The timeline leading up to the young girl's death is unclear but police told The Albuquerque Journal that neighbours heard screaming from the residence and witnessed portions of the murder.
Officer Tanner Tixier, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said investigators are determining whether the suspects will face federal charges for the alleged online crimes.
“This will be a very thorough, long investigation,” he told the local news outlet.
Police said all three suspects in the case are being held in jail on a $1 million bond.