A man under arrest in connection with the gruesome deaths of five people in Modesto, including a 6-month-old baby, is also suspected for another child's death last fall.
Dr. Amanda Crews, age 38, 57-year-old Anna Brown Romero and three young girls ages 6 months, 5 years and 6 years, were found dead Saturday inside a Modesto home. Officers discovered them after being asked to do a welfare check when Crews missed a lunch date.
"I think we're all incredibly devastated, she was one of the most incredible, positive role models you could have as a future physician," Crews' co-worker Andrea Daugirdas said Monday night at a vigil.
Family members tell News10, Crews and the man suspected in the killings, Martin Martinez, had a troubled past relationship that involved physical abuse. Martinez was the father of one of the young victims, Crews' 6-month-old daughter.
During the vigil Monday night, family and friends gathered at Standiford Park, just a couple of miles from the house on Nob Hill Court.
"Because of her, I am still alive; because of her, I still have my 1-year-old daughter," Crews' former patient Rachel Friel said. "And, I owe her my life and I just wish I could have been there to help her."
Friel thinks Crews should have been offered protection from her ex-boyfriend.
Crews recently suffered the loss of her 2-year-old son Christopher Ripley, who died in October. Christopher sustained head injuries while in the care of Martinez, who was the boy's father, and was rushed to the hospital. Christopher died two days later from his injuries.
A forensic analyst looked into the death and determined Christopher died from blunt force trauma, ruling his death was a homicide. Police investigators were informed Thursday. A warrant for Martinez's arrest was issued Saturday evening.
"When it comes to homicide investigations, you only have one shot to make the case," Modesto Police Chief Galen Carroll said. "And there's much more than just the police department that's involved in criminal investigations."
Officers said there was no indication Martinez may do something like this. They said they do not believe Martinez knew the report came out Thursday -- very few people knew.
Former Federal prosecutor Bill Portanova said it's still too early to tell if Modesto police dragged its feet on arresting Martinez.
"It's sad that it took so long for the results to come back without any charges being filed," he said. "If, in fact, it is the same person who committed these murders"
Portanova said when it comes to small children, it can be very tricky to prove homicide, rather than an accidental death, and it can take a lot of time on the part of different agencies.
"If the evidence was there and they didn't file it, well shame on them," he said. "But, if the evidence wasn't there and they didn't file it -- well, that's exactly what they're was supposed to do."
Following the death of Christopher, Child Protective Services got involved; however, officers could not clarify what CPS's involvement was with Crews, Martinez and their children.
Following the discovery of the victims Saturday, officers searched for Martinez, finding him in San Jose leaving a movie theater. He is now in the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of murder.
