Jerry Lee Martinez, a 45-year-old Texas man, is facing charges of sexual assault of a minor, according to jail records. Martinez, who was previously charged with child endangerment and tampering with a witness and evidence, is now accused of raping his 17-year-old daughter, resulting in her pregnancy.
An arrest affidavit obtained by local media reveals that the teenager told investigators that her father had begun to sexually abuse her when she was 15. The document alleges that the abuse continued over the next two years, leading to her pregnancy.
Upon discovering his daughter’s pregnancy, Martinez is said to have physically assaulted her, repeatedly punching her in the stomach. The affidavit further states that he drove her to Mexico last week in an attempt to terminate the pregnancy.
The teenager reportedly gave birth to a stillborn baby in a Walmart restroom in Kingsville, Texas, later that night. The infant was then discarded in the trash. Walmart employees discovered the deceased newborn and alerted the police.
Law enforcement officers later located Martinez and his daughter and pulled over their vehicle. Martinez was taken into custody, while the teenager was transported to a secure location for her safety.
In a related development, Martinez’s stepfather, 60-year-old Mario Duran, is also facing charges of sexual assault.
The tragic incident came to light when Walmart employees found the newborn in a restroom trash can and attempted to resuscitate the infant. The baby was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced the infant dead.
Surveillance footage from the store showed the teenager entering the restroom and leaving approximately 40 minutes later. The newborn was discovered by employees about half an hour after the teenager had left the store.
Martinez is currently being held in the Kleberg County Jail on a $600,000 bond. His residence is in Mathis, Texas, approximately 50 miles north of Kingsville.