Richard Jeffrey Martinez, 59, was arrested on June 12, 2023 for the 1996 sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl in Sunnyvale, California. The child was sexually assaulted in the Cherry Orchard neighbourhood. A DNA profile of the suspect was developed, but did not produce a hit to a suspect in a law enforcement database.
After Martinez’s arrest, two other victims came forward, both of whom were children at the time of the sexual assaults.
The FGG investigation was conducted by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. It has not been reported if they partnered with a forensic organization to conduct the genetic genealogical analysis. The U.S. Department of Justice funded the FGG investigation.
The list of suspects was narrowed down to three brothers. Surreptitious sampling was used to identify Martinez as the individual with the same DNA profile as the suspect. Police obtained a warrant to collect DNA from a plate of half-eaten hot wings at a pub where he normally celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.
Martinez is currently facing four counts of child sexual assault in Santa Clara Superior Court. Police continue to investigate whether he may be responsible for other assaults. They stated that the first victim’s coming forward helped other victims to report the sexual assaults they experienced, as well.
Sources:
CBS San Francisco. “Man Arrested in 1996 Sunnyvale Child Sexual Assault Cold Case; Other Victims Identified.” CBS News, June 13, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sunnyvale-cold-case-child-sexual-assault-arrest-richard-jeffrey-martinez/.
Quintana, Sergio. “DNA Evidence, Undercover Detective in Sunnyvale Help Make Arrest in 1997 Cold Case.” NBC Bay Area, June 15, 2023. Last modified June 16, 2023. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay/undercover-detective-sunnyvale-cold-case/3253357/.
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Facebook (Post). June 13, 2023. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/SunnyvaleDPS/posts/pfbid0FZgznAdGF3Y5Y9SzLuHxKhuVmuaCD4d3x9MRpnH2GiVHXip8v7Kx9rpaQpapwwnwl.
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. “Identification of 1996 Suspect Leads to 2 Additional Child Victims.” Forensic Magazine, June 14, 2023. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.forensicmag.com/597734-Identification-of-1996-Suspect-Leads-to-2-Additional-Child-Victims/.