José Manuel Martínez (born 1962), dubbed El Mano Negra ("The Black Hand") is a Mexican-American former self-described drug cartelhitman.[2] Martínez confessed to an estimated 36 murders and was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder in multiple states.
José Manuel Martínez
Undated mugshot of Martínez taken by Tulare County Sheriff Department
Martínez was arrested in May 2013 for the murder of Jose Ruiz, a friend of his daughter's boyfriend.[3] During his interrogation by Alabama authorities, Martínez confessed to killing 36 people across at least 12 states.[1] All of his victims were adult men, with the exception of one attempted victim that was a 17-year-old boy.[4] Martínez said that most of his murders were related to debts to Mexican drug cartels. He may have killed more than 30 people in over 32 years.[5]
Trialsedit
In Alabama, Martínez pled guilty to one count of murder for the death of Jose Ruiz in March 2013 and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.[6] In California, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of murder in October 2015, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.[7]
The June 2019 trial in Florida for two counts of murder lasted three weeks. The jury deliberated for three hours before deciding that Martínez would not face the death penalty which was sought by the state prosecution, and would instead face two consecutive life sentences.[8] Over a dozen of Martínez's family members testified on his behalf, sharing stories describing the sacrifices he made to protect his siblings, and trips to Disneyland where he took his children and grandchildren.[4] His defense lawyer for his Alabama court case, Thomas Turner, described him as "polite and a likeable individual",[3] and another lawyer, John Spivey, said that it came down to two visions of Martínez, the "cold killer" vs the "truly dedicated father, uncle, grandfather,"[4] and that in the end, "the human side outweighed the monster side".[4]
^ abGarrison, Jessica (2018-05-17). ""I Killed Them All." The Life Of One Of America's Bloodiest Hitmen". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
^"Jose Martinez, The Hitman Who Confessed To Killing Three Dozen People, Avoids The Death Penalty". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
^ ab"Hitman charged with nine murders claims he killed 30 more people". The Independent. 2014-04-10. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
^ abcdMarcum, Diana (2014-04-09). "Alleged hit man confesses to more than 30 killings, 9 in California". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
^Gerber, Marisa; Gold, Scott; Marcum, Diana (2014-04-10). "Arrested in 1 killing, man says he was a cartel hit man for decades". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
^Grass, Jonathan. "Alleged cartel hit man pleads guilty to murdering Decatur man". www.al.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
^"Man who says he was cartel enforcer pleads guilty to murders". www.sfexaminer.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
^Miller, Austin L. "Life in prison for drug hitman". www.ocala.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
Further readingedit
Garrison, Jessica (2020). The Devil's Harvest: A Ruthless Killer, a Terrorized Community, and the Search for Justice in California's Central Valley. Hachette Books. ISBN978-1-5491-0589-0. OCLC 1183400969.
This United States biographical article related to crime is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
josé, manuel, martínez, serial, killer, josé, manuel, martínez, born, 1962, dubbed, mano, negra, black, hand, mexican, american, former, self, described, drug, cartel, hitman, martínez, confessed, estimated, murders, sentenced, life, prison, after, being, conv. Jose Manuel Martinez born 1962 dubbed El Mano Negra The Black Hand is a Mexican American former self described drug cartel hitman 2 Martinez confessed to an estimated 36 murders and was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder in multiple states Jose Manuel MartinezUndated mugshot of Martinez taken by Tulare County Sheriff DepartmentBorn1962 age 60 61 Fresno California U S Other namesEl Mano NegraYears active1978 2013Conviction s First degree murder 12 counts Attempted murder 1 count Criminal penaltyTen life sentencesDetailsVictims12 convicted 36 claimed State s Alabama California and Florida convicted 9 others claimed Date apprehendedMay 17 2013 1 Contents 1 Crimes 2 Trials 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingCrimes editMartinez was arrested in May 2013 for the murder of Jose Ruiz a friend of his daughter s boyfriend 3 During his interrogation by Alabama authorities Martinez confessed to killing 36 people across at least 12 states 1 All of his victims were adult men with the exception of one attempted victim that was a 17 year old boy 4 Martinez said that most of his murders were related to debts to Mexican drug cartels He may have killed more than 30 people in over 32 years 5 Trials editIn Alabama Martinez pled guilty to one count of murder for the death of Jose Ruiz in March 2013 and was sentenced to 50 years in prison 6 In California he pleaded guilty to nine counts of murder in October 2015 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole 7 The June 2019 trial in Florida for two counts of murder lasted three weeks The jury deliberated for three hours before deciding that Martinez would not face the death penalty which was sought by the state prosecution and would instead face two consecutive life sentences 8 Over a dozen of Martinez s family members testified on his behalf sharing stories describing the sacrifices he made to protect his siblings and trips to Disneyland where he took his children and grandchildren 4 His defense lawyer for his Alabama court case Thomas Turner described him as polite and a likeable individual 3 and another lawyer John Spivey said that it came down to two visions of Martinez the cold killer vs the truly dedicated father uncle grandfather 4 and that in the end the human side outweighed the monster side 4 See also editList of serial killers in the United StatesReferences edit a b Garrison Jessica 2018 05 17 I Killed Them All The Life Of One Of America s Bloodiest Hitmen BuzzFeed News Retrieved 2019 12 10 Jose Martinez The Hitman Who Confessed To Killing Three Dozen People Avoids The Death Penalty BuzzFeed News Retrieved 2019 12 05 a b Hitman charged with nine murders claims he killed 30 more people The Independent 2014 04 10 Archived from the original on 2022 06 17 Retrieved 2019 11 14 a b c d Marcum Diana 2014 04 09 Alleged hit man confesses to more than 30 killings 9 in California Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2019 12 10 Gerber Marisa Gold Scott Marcum Diana 2014 04 10 Arrested in 1 killing man says he was a cartel hit man for decades Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2020 09 04 Grass Jonathan Alleged cartel hit man pleads guilty to murdering Decatur man www al com Retrieved 2020 08 03 Man who says he was cartel enforcer pleads guilty to murders www sfexaminer com Retrieved 2020 08 03 Miller Austin L Life in prison for drug hitman www ocala com Retrieved 2020 08 03 Further reading editGarrison Jessica 2020 The Devil s Harvest A Ruthless Killer a Terrorized Community and the Search for Justice in California s Central Valley Hachette Books ISBN 978 1 5491 0589 0 OCLC 1183400969 nbsp This United States biographical article related to crime is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jose Manuel Martinez serial killer amp oldid 1186745944, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
