September 23, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The man charged with first degree murder in the beating death of his girlfriend this week will remain in jail without bond.
35-year-old Simon Rodriguez Martinez made his first appearance in DeKalb County General Sessions Court Thursday. The presiding judge, Vester Parsley, who filled in for Judge Brandon Cox, did not set a bond for Martinez but has scheduled a preliminary hearing for him on October 11. The District Public Defenders Office will represent him. Judge Cox had to be absent due to a judicial conference he was attending.
Martinez allegedly killed his girlfriend, 39-year-old Yuri Guerra by repeatedly hitting her in the head with a hammer at their home at 620 South Mountain Street early Wednesday morning in the presence of three children.
He is in the DeKalb County Jail.
The case is being investigated by the Smithville Police Department, TBI, and District Attorney General’s Office.