‘Obsessed And Controlling’ Dad On The Run After Allegedly Killing His Daughter

Utah: A tragic and disturbing case unfolded in Utah after a father, described as increasingly obsessed with his daughter, was charged with her murder. Hector Ramon Martinez-Ayala, 54, is accused of strangling his 25-year-old daughter, Marbella Martinez, in their Tooele home before fleeing the country. Marbella, a recently sworn-in corrections officer with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, was found dead on August 1 after a welfare check by the police.

An Obsessed and Controlling Father

Marbella Martinez had been living with her father, Martinez-Ayala, at the time of her death. According to the charging documents, Martinez-Ayala had become increasingly possessive and controlling in the weeks leading up to the murder. About two weeks before the incident, he allegedly purchased a tracking device and hidden spy cameras, which he placed on his daughter’s car. His controlling behavior escalated when he followed Marbella on July 29 and discovered her with a romantic interest, leading to a heated argument between them.

Following the confrontation, Marbella stayed in a hotel for two nights, returning home on the morning of July 31. Surveillance footage from the home shows Martinez-Ayala arriving at 2:17 p.m. that same day. However, after his arrival, the cameras inside the home were disabled, and no further footage was captured. This gap in the video recordings raises suspicions that Martinez-Ayala may have intentionally disabled the cameras to conceal his actions.

The Crime and Escape

The Tooele Police Department conducted a welfare check on August 1, where they found Marbella Martinez dead in her home. Investigators initially labeled her death as suspicious, but further evidence led to the charging of her father with first-degree murder. Martinez-Ayala is also facing charges of obstructing justice, stalking, unlawful possession and use of a bank card, and unlawful possession of another person’s identification.

After allegedly committing the murder, Martinez-Ayala attempted to cover his tracks. According to investigators, he drove to the airport, discarding his daughter’s phone along the highway before fleeing the state. Martinez-Ayala then flew to San Francisco and later to Houston. Upon landing in an unspecified foreign country, he used his twin brother’s identity to evade detection. As of now, his whereabouts remain unknown, though authorities believe he is still outside the United States.

In the days following the murder, disturbing details about the father’s mental state emerged. Charging documents revealed that Martinez-Ayala had sent his daughter increasingly inappropriate text messages, which investigators described as more akin to a jealous lover than a concerned parent. The tension between the two appeared to have culminated in the fatal act of violence.

Family and Community Mourning

In the aftermath of Marbella Martinez’s death, her colleagues at the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office expressed deep sorrow over her loss. Sheriff Rosie Rivera issued a heartfelt statement: “Deputy Martinez was a dedicated member of our Sheriff’s Office family. In her short time with us, she became a cherished friend and an integral part of our team. Her untimely and tragic death is a profound loss for us all.”