A 24-year-old man, Peter Martinelli, has been apprehended and charged with murder following a domestic disturbance in Central Lubbock, Texas. The incident occurred on August 10, around 7 p.m., when police were called to a residence near 20th and Toledo Ave. Upon arrival, officers discovered Martinelli in the driveway, who then fled into an alley before reentering the house.
Inside the property, police found Martinelli’s mother, 63-year-old Brigitte Curtis, in the backyard with severe injuries. Despite the efforts of emergency medical services, Curtis was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported that Martinelli had attacked his mother in the front yard, striking her multiple times with a weapon. After Curtis fell, Martinelli allegedly continued his assault.
Following the attack, another witness reported seeing Martinelli spraying his mother with a water hose and dragging her body to the west side of the house. When police found her, she had a large wound on her neck. Martinelli, who appeared to be covered in blood, was taken into custody without further incident.
Martinelli is currently being held at the Lubbock County Detention Center, with his bond set at $500,000. The tragic incident has left the community in shock, particularly as Curtis was a respected doctor at StarCare Specialty Health System in Lubbock.
StarCare released a statement expressing their grief over the loss of their long-term friend and colleague, Dr. Brigitte Curtis. They extended their prayers to all those affected by her death, including the Curtis family, Team StarCare, and Dr. Curtis’ patients.
The Lubbock Police Department continues to investigate the incident, which has left a profound impact on the local community. Curtis, a 1987 graduate from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, had been a licensed physician since 1993 with certifications issued by the American Board of Medical Specialties in child and adolescent psychiatry.