Jose-Manuel-Martinez-Serial-Killer
Is José Manuel Martínez a serial killer? Former Mexican drug cartel hitman claims to have killed over 40. Shutterstock/Veronica Louro

A man in California, who has been charged for nine murders, may be adding serial killer to his resume in addition to Mexican drug cartel hitman. José Manuel Martínez, 51, has reportedly confessed to investigators that he killed up to 40 people during his career, dating back to the 1980s.

While his defense attorney calls him "likeable and polite," his past actions are proving that he is far from that. According to Errek Jett, the district attorney of Lawrence County, Alabama, Martínez admitted to more murders from when he was an enforcer for a Mexican drug cartel. Authorities believe Martínez's claims due to the level of details he provided.

The nine murders Martínez is charged with in California include victims of both varying ages. His victims, include: 23-year-old David Bedolla (Oct. 21, 1980), 30-year-old Sylvester Ayon (Oct. 1, 1982), 22-year-old Raul Gonzalez (Oct. 19, 1982), 29-year-old Domingo Perez (Apr. 8, 1995), 56-year-old Santiago Perez (Feb. 14, 2000), 25-year-old Jose Alvarado (Feb. 15, 2007), 52-year-old Juan Bautista Moreno (Mar. 23, 2009), 45-year-old Joaquin Barragan (Sep. 30, 2009), and 54-year-old Gonzalo Urquieta (Feb. 7, 2011).

Martínez was arrested last year after crossing from Mexico to Arizona. He was sent to Alabama and has been charged for one murder. Here are four things to know about Martínez:

1. Martínez was reportedly working for a drug cartel as an enforcer since he was 16.

2. Martínez reportedly told authorities that it was a job and how he supported his family. "It’s how he fed his family, is how he explained it," said Marion County, Alabama, Sheriff's Det. T.J. Watts to CNN in June 2013. "And if he didn’t do the job, someone else would do it."

3. According to Martínez's attorney, he pleads innocence. "I've found him to be polited and a likeable individual," said defense attorney Thomas Turner. "He has a good personality as far as talking with him."

4. Martínez lived in Richgrove, California for years, on-and-off. He would be eligible for the death penalty in California, if convicted.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.