Stepfather Arrested For Toddler’s Murder
CABAZON -The stepfather of a toddler found dead in Cabazon was in custody today on suspicion of murder.
Jesse Martinez, Jr., 32, faces charges of murder and child abuse causing great bodily, said Sgt. Brian Reno of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies went to a home in the 14600 block of Cabazon Street after receiving a 911 call at 1:17 a.m. Sunday about a child needing medical attention and found 3-year-old Ramon Jimenez, who was not breathing, he said.
Next-door neighbor Susan PingreesawMartinez helping paramedics.
“He ran outside to tell them to come inside he was telling them to come into the gate,” says Pingree.
The boy was transported to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning, where he was pronounced dead. His injuries indicated he was the victim of a homicide, Reno said.
Neighbors can’t believe it.
“We wave. We say, ‘Hi,’ to the guy and to the wife and said ‘Hi’ to the kids and other than that, that’s it,” says Pingree. “Just sad. It was really really sad.”
“I never hear him scream. I always see them taking kids to the park in the morning and be nice to kids,” says Yanina Lovisa, another neighbor.
Martinez was being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $1 million. His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
Anyone with information regarding the boy’s death was urged to call the sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or the Cabazon Station at (951) 922-7100.
