Gwinnett County mother convicted in stabbing death of husband, 4 children

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The mother accused in the deadly stabbing of her husband and four of her children in July 2017 was convicted and sentenced Tuesday.

Isabel Martinez, 35, was convicted on five counts of murder and one count each of aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the third degree in Gwinnett County Superior Court.

On July 6, 2017, Martinez called 911 telling dispatchers she had just stabbed her children and husband, 33-year-old Martin Romero, at their Emory Lane home in Loganville. Gwinnett County Police officers found a man and four children stabbed to death. 

Investigators identified the young victims as Isabela Martinez, 10, Dacota Romero, 7, Dillan Romero, 4, and Axel Romero, 2.

A fifth child, Diana, who also suffered stab wound, was found and rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where she underwent emergency surgery. She has been recovering with family members since.

Neighbors said the family had moved into the area about five months before the violent stabbing deaths and seemed normal, but some said Martinez recently fell into a deep depression after the death of her father.

Martinez, who is a Mexican national, exhibited odd behavior during her first appearance immediately following the murders. Martinez could be seen grinning while the hearing was underway. As the judge talked about the case against her, Martinez held her arms open and swayed back and forth. At one point she held her hands together in a prayer position and nodded at the cameras. Martinez continued making a scene, getting up from her seat, laughing and giving the camera two thumbs up.

At one point the judge said to Martinez, "Ma'am I'm going to ask you to cut out the displays for the camera. It's probably not good or to your benefit."

Prosecutors said Martinez eventually confessed to the brutal stabbings.

A judge sentenced Martinez to life with the possibility of parole for the murder charges, plus 21 years for the remaining counts to be served concurrent.

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