A Monterey County jury has found a Salinas man guilty of first-degree murder for the 2013 screwdriver stabbing death of a 53-year-old man inside a motel, prosecutors said Friday.
Hector Martinez, 33, received the verdict after a four-week long trial and is now facing a 25-year to life prison sentence, according to prosecutors.
On Dec. 4, 2013, the victim, Bobby Dick, checked into the Laurel Inn, located at 801 W. Laurel Drive. A few hours later, Martinez checked into the same motel, prosecutors said.
Martinez, who prosecutors said might have been high on methamphetamine, attacked Dick in the doorway of his hotel room.
In an attempt to rob him, Martinez stabbed Dick more than 130 times with a screwdriver, according to prosecutors.
Martinez then fled on foot and stole a car a few hours later in the north end of the city, prosecutors said.
Police arrested Martinez for car theft, but did not initially connect him to the murder, prosecutors said.
A motel work discovered Dick’s body on the next day, when Dick failed to check out of the room.
Detectives working on the case linked Martinez to the murder after discovering items connected to Dick in Martinez’s possession, according to prosecutors.
Detectives also found dried blood on the clothes Martinez was wearing when he stole the car, prosecutors said.
Detectives were able to match the blood to the victim’s DNA, providing enough evidence to charge Martinez with the murder, according to prosecutors.
Martinez is set to appear in court for sentencing on July 27.
Last modified June 6, 2015 12:32 am
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