The Murder of Liette ‘Lola’ Martinez
For this case I watched an episode of Murder Loves Company. It’s season 1 episode 1, titled 'Dorm Living Nightmare.’
Background
Lola Martinez
Liette Martinez changed her name to Lola because she didn’t like when people mispronounced her name. She grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was very close to her family.
Lola was a 22 year old student at New Mexico State University, but at the time of her death she was studying graphic design at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, as part of an exchange program. Lola lived with three other girls who were also students at the university, and from what it seemed like everyone got along.
The Discovery
On Friday, April 18, 2008, around 11:34am, Lola’s roommate Shasta Meyers returned home from class. Shasta was interviewed in this episode, and she said she had walked into the kitchen to put food away, when she discovered blood on the pantry door.
Shasta walked through the rest of the apartment calling out for her roommates. There was no answer, but Shasta did look into the bathroom, and saw Lola laying on the floor. Shasta ran to her neighbor’s apartment and asked them to call the police.
At 11:51am, the paramedics and police arrived. Lola was pronounced dead at the scene. An alert was sent out to lockdown the campus.
The Investigation
It was very obvious to the police that Lola had been stabbed. She had multiple stab wounds to her neck and shoulder, and something was wrapped around her neck.
The murder weapon, an 8 inch kitchen knife was found nearby. The knife was bent at a 90 degree angle, and the handle was broken. Lola’s hands had also been burned, and a pan was found on the floor. It was determined that the killer had thrown boiling water at her.
The police walked around the apartment, and found smudges and possible handprints in blood on Lola’s doorframe and wall. The blood was collected, and sent in for testing.
By 2pm that day, the police contacted the Las Cruces police department, so they could notify Lola’s family. They were devastated. They were asked if Lola had any enemies, and they said no. They told the police that Lola liked school, and had been getting along well with all of her new friends and roommates.
The Roommates
Next, the police wanted to talk to Lola’s roommates. Shasta was the first person they wanted to speak to, since she had found Lola. Shasta was devastated and wasn’t much help at first.
She didn’t reveal much information at the station, other than that Lola had been watching a movie the previous night with their roommate Tanzania, and her mom. Tanzania’s mom Tina had been staying with them for a few days. Tanzania also said that she had seen Lola until she left to possibly go see the boy she had been seeing from her job at a restaurant called Bandido’s.
The police also questioned the third roommate named Mandy. It was determined that Mandy had left the previous day, Thursday, to go to her boyfriend’s home in Michigan. She was ruled out.
The Boyfriend
Lola’s boyfriend Brandon York said he knew something was wrong when Lola didn’t show up to work the next day. He had heard that the police were wanting to speak to him, so he made contact with them, and offered to tell them what he knew.
Brandon said that Lola had come over to his house after the movie night she had, and that she felt uncomfortable. She said during the movie night Tanzania had asked a lot of questions, and that she made a few comments about it. Brandon said they had a good night, and that Lola left around 1-1:30am.
The Surveillance Footage
The police wanted to talk to Tanzania again, since she had left out a few details. She came back into the station, and they asked her about the movie night fight. Tanzania said it wasn’t a fight, and that she knew she talked a lot. She said she hadn’t been offended by Lola’s comments. Tanzania did say that she had more tension with her own mom Tina, than she did with Lola.
It turned out that all the roommates were fed up with Tina overstaying her welcome. Tanzania was gone a lot of the time at work and class, and sometimes Tina would be by herself in the apartment.
The police asked Tanzania where her mom was, and she said she didn’t know. She hadn’t seen her since Lola was found, and that she recalled her mom saying she was going to go to Miami to visit a friend. Tanzania said her mom hadn’t returned any of her calls, and that she was worried.
About 30 hours into the investigation, the police obtained the surveillance footage from the apartment building where Lola was living. They wanted to see who left the apartment last.
Tina was the last person left in the apartment, while Shasta and Tanzania had been out all day, just like they said. Tina can be seen leaving the apartment to go smoke a cigarette, and returns to the apartment for about an hour.
When she exits for the final time, the police noticed she changed her shirt, and is hiding her left hand in her pocket. She also appears agitated, and impatient.
Shasta is seen returning home from class at 11:38am, just a few minutes before she would find her roommate dead.
Arrest and Confession
A state wide search is issued for Tina Morris. The police also received information from Lola’s family that she did have a car that she parked at her apartment, with New Mexico plates. The car was missing, and an APB is also put out for Lola’s car.
On Sunday of that week, Tina made contact with the police. She said she was in Indianapolis, waiting at a park bench. Tanzania had been the one to tell her mom to turn herself in.
Once the police arrived in Indianapolis, they found Tina, and Lola’s car parked on the street. The car was towed back to Fort Wayne to be processed, and Tina was taken into the station.
Tina told the police that she was angry because Lola had said some “smart stuff” to her daughter during the movie. She thought that Lola had disrespected Tanzania, and that she was offended. Tina said she thought about it all night, and decided to confront Lola once the other girls left for the day.
During her confession, Tina tried to tell the police that Lola had attacked her. However, the police knew that was not true. Tina soon said Lola didn’t attack her, and that they got into an argument. Tina had cuts to her hands that proved she had cut herself when the knife slipped out of her hand during the stabbing.
The Plea Deal
Tina was arrested for murder, felony murder and auto theft.
Tina’s attorney originally tried to plead not guilty due to reason of insanity, but, on August 20, Tina pleaded guilty to murder. She was sentenced to 60 years in prison, after a plea deal was offered, and her other charges were dismissed. Lola’s family said they didn’t want to go to trial, and heard the horrific details of their daughter’s death.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I just can’t believe this case. A mother killed a young woman because of a comment she made during a movie. I think maybe Tina was dealing with some mental issues, or maybe she just gets very angry easily. Either way, it’s not an excuse to kill someone. She deserves the 60 years she received in prison.
Sources
https://www.abqjournal.com/21428/updated-at-1210pm-nmsu-students-killer-gets-60-years.html
https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/news/indiana-student-stabbed-in-dorm-by-roommates-mother/
https://www.chronicle.com/article/suspect-in-campus-murder-is-mother-of-victims-roommate/
