The Murder of Landy Martinez
For this case, I watched an episode of Murder Calls. It’s season 2 episode 3, titled ‘If I Can’t Have You.’
The police receive a phone call from a worried roommate, and make a horrific discovery.
Background
Landy Martinez was born in Cuba, but at age 5, moved to the Miami, Florida, area with his father.
Landy went to school to become a certified nursing assistant. He then moved to St. Petersburg, and got a job at a nursing home in Tampa. Landy loved his job, and enjoyed planning activities for the residents.
Landy came out to his friends, and some of his family. They all accepted him, and he seemed to be comfortable in his skin, once he knew those around him accepted him.
Landy was described as compassionate and kind. He loved to go out with friends, listen to music, and dance.
Landy Martinez
The 911 Call
On December 21, 2011, Landy called 911. In the call, Landy can be heard screaming for help, and telling the dispatch, “help, they want to kill me!” The dispatcher asks Landy for his address many times, but after he called for help, there was no response.
Landy was able to tell the dispatcher his name, but when the police were contacted, they were able to get a general location, not an exact address.
Landy’s roommate Pilar contacted the police when she couldn’t get into contact with him. Pilar gave the police the address, and the name of her roommate.
Pilar told the police that it unusual for her not to receive any texts or calls from Landy. The surveillance system in their home had also been disconnected. Landy’s boyfriend, Jonathan, also couldn’t get into contact with him.
The Crime Scene
Landy was found dead inside the home. He was lying on the floor, and had been shot once in the chest, and once in the back of the head. Two shell casings from a .380 semi-automatic were found, as well as Landy’s phone.
The home had been ransacked, but the killer or killers had left behind a lot of evidence. There were about 10 bags of items from the home near the front door. A large plasma TV screen had been removed from the wall mount, and several other electronics were stacked by the door.
In the bathroom, the police found a roll of duct tape, and strips that had been removed from Landy’s body. A pair of gloves, bleach, and drano were also found nearby.
The police originally believed that it was a robbery gone wrong.
Possible Suspects
The police canvassed the area. Several neighbors told the police that on the day of the murder, they were visited by two magazine salesmen. One neighbor said that one of them was pushy, and tried to look into the home as he was talking.
The neighbor had a card from the company. The two salesmen were tracked down, but immediately ruled out.
Another neighbor said that they had seen two Hispanic males running away from the crime scene. They didn’t get a great look at them, but the police were able to determine they had been seen around the time that the 911 call had come in.
This was a good lead, because Landy had said “they are trying to kill me,” in his 911 call. The police believed they were looking at more than one person.
A Love Triangle?
Next, the police knew that Landy had a new boyfriend. The boyfriend’s name was Jonathan, and they had been dating for about 3 weeks.
Pilar was able to give the police Jonathan’s address. The police went to speak to him, and he was notified that Landy was dead. Jonathan appeared upset, and was cooperative.
Jonathan told the police that he had been at home during the time of the murder. He last spoke to Landy the night before the murder. Landy had called Jonathan, and put him on a three-way call with his ex-boyfriend Jose Adame. Landy had wanted to prove to Jonathan that his relationship with Jose was over.
Jonathan said that he thought everything seemed fine after the call. However, the next morning, he received text messages from Landy. In the messages, Landy told him that he wanted to break up. Jonathan tried calling Landy, but there was no answer.
Jonathan agreed to take a voice stress test, which are inadmissible in court. There was no deception in his voice and answers, and he was ruled out.
The Jealous Ex-Boyfriend
The police turned their attention to Jose Adame. They spoke to another one of Landy’s friends named Gail. They worked together at the nurse home, and Gail had been around Jose and Landy when they were dating.
Gail met Jose in 2010. Landy and Jose seemed like they were really in love. They moved in together in September 2010, but Landy asked Jose to move out in October 2011.
Jose borrowed an old car of Landy’s, and moved to North Carolina. Jose was obviously not over the relationship, and would text Gail photos of himself in the car running red lights. Landy was sent several tickets due to the incidents, and was pissed.
Landy used a ruse to get the car back, and told Jose that he missed him, and wanted him back. Jose agreed, and traveled back to Florida, just a week before Landy’s murder.
The two met at a restaurant. Before Jose arrived, Landy called the police, and told them that it was his car, and he wasn’t going to allow Jose to have it anymore. Landy drove away, leaving Jose stranded.
The Video
The Pinellas County police reached out the police in North Carolina. Jose had about 12 addresses, but he wasn’t at any of them. An APB (all points bulletin) was put out for him.
Meanwhile, the Pinellas County police finally had access to Landy’s phone. On the phone, they discovered a video of Landy being tortured. As Landy sobs, he says Jose wasn’t at fault. It’s clear that Jose was most likely the one who recorded the video.
The police also believed that Jose had been the one had been sending texts to Jonathan.
Jose was arrested on December 27, 2011, in North Carolina, for an unrelated vehicle theft.
The Conviction
In the interrogation room, Jose denied being involved. About an hour in, an attorney hired by Jose’s family called, which ended the interview.
On April 14, 2012, Jose was charged with Landy’s murder.
At trial, it was revealed that Jose had been in Florida at the time of the call between him and Landy, from the night before the murder. He had been staying at a friend’s house nearby.
The prosecution said Jose was motivated by revenge. Jose knew Landy’s routine, and knew he would be at home alone on December 21.
Jose, and his accomplice, broke into the home, and confronted Landy. Landy was then tortured in the bathroom, but he escaped, and was able to call 911. Landy was then shot twice.
The video of Landy being tortured was shown at trial.
It’s unclear if Jose and his accomplice were spooked by something. They had planned to rob the house, but left without taking anything.
After a 5 day trial, Jose Adame was convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to life without parole.
Jose’s accomplice has never been identified.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Jose Adame
The 911 call was probably one of the scariest I’ve ever heard. Landy tried to fight back, and call for help, but Jose caught up to him.
Jose became obsessed with Landy, and took the life of someone he once claimed to love. I also believe he planned it, and that it was not a crime of passion. Jose needs to man up, and give up the name of his accomplice. There is another person out on the street, who is clearly capable of hurting people for no reason.
Sources
https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/10/10/love-triangle-troubles-lead-to-filmed-torture-recorded-murder/
