Gay Teen Autopsy Non Conclusive
Sherrif Refuses To Release Details Of Murder Investigation
A just-released autopsy report on a 16-year-old Cortez
boy found dead last month could not determine the cause of death
because of the body's condition.
The report suggests Fred C. Martinez Jr. (pictured, left), an openly gay high
school student, may have died from head trauma, excessive bleeding
or exposure to outdoor elements, said Montezuma County Coroner Paul
Bostrom.
His death was ruled a homicide.
The Montezuma County Sheriff's Office refused to release
details. Detective Lt. Kalvin Boggs said only that it is not known
if the blunt-force trauma to Martinez's head, possibly inflicted by
a bloody rock found at the scene, caused his death.
It cannot be determined if subsequent exposure or blood loss
from another injury, a slash on his abdomen, might have contributed
to the boy's death, forensic pathologist Dr. Robert Kurtzman said.
Martinez's wrists also appeared to have been injured, said
Kurtzman, who performed the autopsy in Grand Junction several weeks
ago.
Kurtzman said that Martinez was not intoxicated by drugs or
alcohol at the time of his death.
Boggs said investigators believe that Martinez was beaten and
died late June 16 or early June 17.
His body was found June 21 on a rocky ledge in a small desert
canyon on the edge of town, just blocks from his home. The body was
in advanced stages of decomposition.
Authorities arrested 18-year-old Shaun Murphy (pictured, right) of Farmington,
N.M., July 3 on suspicion of the homicide. Murphy was later charged
with second-degree murder.
He is being held in the Montezuma County Jail on $500,000 bond.
Gay-rights activists believe that Martinez might have been
assaulted because of his transgender identity. Friends have said
Martinez considered himself a girl in a boy's body. Authorities have said they were looking into whether hate was a motive.
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The report suggests Fred C. Martinez Jr. (pictured, left), an openly gay high
school student, may have died from head trauma, excessive bleeding
or exposure to outdoor elements, said Montezuma County Coroner Paul
Bostrom.
His death was ruled a homicide.
The Montezuma County Sheriff's Office refused to release
details. Detective Lt. Kalvin Boggs said only that it is not known
if the blunt-force trauma to Martinez's head, possibly inflicted by
a bloody rock found at the scene, caused his death.
It cannot be determined if subsequent exposure or blood loss
from another injury, a slash on his abdomen, might have contributed
to the boy's death, forensic pathologist Dr. Robert Kurtzman said.
Martinez's wrists also appeared to have been injured, said
Kurtzman, who performed the autopsy in Grand Junction several weeks
ago.
Kurtzman said that Martinez was not intoxicated by drugs or
alcohol at the time of his death.
Boggs said investigators believe that Martinez was beaten and
died late June 16 or early June 17.
His body was found June 21 on a rocky ledge in a small desert
canyon on the edge of town, just blocks from his home. The body was
in advanced stages of decomposition.
Authorities arrested 18-year-old Shaun Murphy (pictured, right) of Farmington,
N.M., July 3 on suspicion of the homicide. Murphy was later charged
with second-degree murder.
He is being held in the Montezuma County Jail on $500,000 bond.
Gay-rights activists believe that Martinez might have been
assaulted because of his transgender identity. Friends have said
Martinez considered himself a girl in a boy's body. Authorities have said they were looking into whether hate was a motive.
- July 11, 2001: Cortez Murder Suspect Lived With Murderer
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
