New Medical Findings Lead to Release of Man Convicted in 1990 Infant Death

A ruling has freed a man in Colorado, who was previously convicted of murder and has spent over 26 years behind bars. The man was convicted of murder in connection with the death of a child in the 1990s. The decision, however, has left the victim’s family in continued grief.

A longstanding murder conviction in Colorado has been overturned, reopening questions regarding a child’s death in the late 1990s. The decision came after a fresh expert analysis challenged the original findings of the case. However, the ruling has freed a man who has spent over 26 years behind bars.

The man convicted is Stephen Martinez of Denver. He was convicted in 2000 in relation to an incident that occurred in 1990. Martinez was convicted in 2000 in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s infant daughter, identified as Heather Mares, according to reports from CBS News.

Martinez had called 911 in October 1998, reporting that the infant was choking. Responding officers later found a skull fracture and blood-stained sheets.

Investigators in the case said that Martinez admitted to shaking the baby and striking her head against the crib. However, at the time of the investigation, he told authorities that it was an accident. Court records also show that Martinez maintained the incident was an accident. After he was convicted, Martinez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On April 21, Judge Andrew Luxen vacated the conviction after the Korey Wise Innocent Project presented new evidence in court, according to reports from the Associated Press. The experts suggested that there was a possibility that the infant might have died due to pneumonia-related complications and not by the abuse.

The judge, upon being presented with the new evidence, ordered Martinez’s immediate release. Denver District Attorney John Walsh said that multiple medical experts have challenged the original cause of death, and independent reviews supported those conclusions.

“The Korey Wise Innocent project has presented my office with multiple credible medical experts who challenged the initial determination that the infant’s cause of death was physical abuse,” Walsh said in a statement. However, despite the ruling, the victim’s family continues t believe that Martinez had killed the child. They had also objected to his release in court; however, the judge had dismissed the objection.

Walsh said prosecutors could no longer prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and therefore did not challenge or oppose the overturning of the conviction. He added there was no misconduct in the original investigation.