Colorado officials found a 5-year-old and his father who had been missing for over a week after the boy’s mom was murdered.
The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office tells Newsweek that the boy’s “family” brought Helliono Martinez, 5, to their office Thursday at 12:30 p.m. He is now in the temporary custody of the Montezuma County Department of Social Services.
The child’s father, Charles Martinez, 43, was also located and is not charged with any crimes at this time.
The boy’s mom, Chrystal Snow, 39, was found shot to death in her Pagosa Springs home on July 2 after a 911 call. Her son was located alive with an aunt in Cortez at the time of her death, but before Thursday, was last seen with Charles Martinez on July 16.
The father and son were spotted in a Gold 2011 Dodge Ram heading to the dad’s Cortez home that day.
Helliono’s 17-year-old brother, Hevon Martinez, was arrested by Cortez Police on July 7 after reports of suspicious activity and shots fired at a vehicle, according to The Journal. He is being held at the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center in Grand Junction.
On July 16, the Department of Human Services also obtained a court order granting the state of Colorado emergency custody of Helliono Martinez. An Endangered Missing Alert for the boy was issued two days later.
As for Hevon Martinez, it was revealed at a July 10 hearing in Archuleta County that he is being investigated for Snow’s murder. His legal team argued for him to be released from the detention center at a July 22 hearing so that he could be there for his younger brother during this time. The teen reportedly claimed he struggled with mental health in the past but promised to remain sober, earn his GED, and get a job if released.
The judge ultimately decided Hevon Martinez should remain detained for the investigation because he is a flight risk. He reportedly complained in court about hair in food and sour milk at his detention center.
Meanwhile, in Howell County, Missouri, a quick-thinking business owner saved a 2-year-old girl from being abducted by her father, who was said to be “possibly intoxicated and has made suicidal statements,” on Thursday.
Scott Brown, the owner of Lynch Equipment, told officials that Paxton Raider 2, and her dad Joseph Raider approached his business, asking to use the phone after they had been walking all night.
Concerned, Brown contacted his wife who told him about an ongoing AMBER Alert issued for Paxton.
“I locked him in the building and called the law. They got up here and done their thing,” Brown told K8 News.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
