An Arizona father was found guilty of murder Thursday in connection to the starvation death of his 6-year-old son who died weighing a 1-year-old child's wight.
Anthony Martinez, 28, was convicted of first-degree murder over the 2020 death of 6-year-old Deshaun Martinez.
When officers responded to the man’s home in early March 2020 over reports of an unresponsive child, the deceased boy’s brother was still locked in the closet.
Deshaun died at the hospital weighing only 18 lbs. his cause of death was starvation, the coroner determined.
Martinez, the boy’s mother Elizabeth Archibeque, and the child’s grandmother Ann Martinez claimed the victim and his brother were kept inside the closet 16 hours a day because they stole food.
They also claimed Deshaun’s malnourishment was caused by a medical issue.
Anthony Martinez faces life behind bars when he is sentenced on June 28.
Archibeque received a life sentence after pleading guilty to similar charges.
Ann Martinez is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty.
