ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Ten years after the killing of 10-year-old Victoria Martens shocked Albuquerque and drew national attention, investigators and prosecutors say critical questions in the case remain unanswered.
Sunday marked what would have been Victoria’s 20th birthday. Instead, her death remains one of New Mexico’s most high-profile and complicated criminal cases, with authorities still searching for answers about a possible fourth person connected to the crime.
Victoria was killed on Aug. 23, 2016, inside a Westside Albuquerque apartment. The following morning, police discovered her body after responding to a 911 call, launching an investigation that drew national attention and evolved dramatically over the years.
Three people were ultimately convicted in connection with the case: Victoria’s mother, Michelle Martens; her mother’s boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales; and Gonzales’ cousin, Jessica Kelley. All three faced charges related to Victoria’s death and the attempted cover-up that followed.
Despite those convictions, prosecutors say a significant piece of the case remains unresolved.
According to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, unidentified male DNA recovered during the investigation has never been matched to a suspect. Authorities have long referred to the unknown individual as “John Doe,” and an indictment remains active for that unidentified person.
Prosecutors have said the DNA was found under Victoria’s fingernails and on her neck. The DNA does not match any of the three people convicted in the case, nor any known male in Victoria’s life who was investigated.
Over the years, investigators have conducted additional forensic testing and revisited the evidence as DNA technology has advanced. However, authorities say those efforts have not identified the source of the DNA or clarified what role, if any, that person played in Victoria’s death.
The case took a major turn in 2018 when prosecutors announced evidence showed Michelle Martens and Fabian Gonzales were not inside the apartment at the time Victoria was killed. As a result, murder and rape charges against the pair were dismissed, though other charges remained.
Ultimately, Gonzales was convicted of reckless child abuse resulting in death and multiple counts of tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to 37 years in prison. Kelley later pleaded no contest to multiple felony charges, including child abuse resulting in death, and received a 44-year prison sentence.
Michelle Martens was sentenced to 12 years in prison on child abuse-related charges and was released in 2025 after receiving credit for time served and good-time credits. She is currently on probation.
Today, prosecutors say the investigation remains open. Authorities continue reviewing tips and leads as they search for answers about the unidentified DNA and the possibility of a fourth suspect.
For many who have followed the case over the last decade, Victoria’s birthday serves as a reminder that while convictions were secured, some of the most important questions surrounding her death remain unanswered.
