Grand Jury Returns First Degree Murder Indictment Against Martinez in Fatal Hammer Attack on his Girlfriend

November 14, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The man who allegedly beat his girlfriend to death with a hammer in September has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury for first degree murder.

35-year-old Simon Rodriguez Martinez will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on December 6.

Martinez was indicted by the new term of the Grand Jury on Monday, November 14 charging him with first degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Yuri Guerra. The incident occurred at the couple’s trailer home at 620 South Mountain Street on September 21.

Following a 25-minute preliminary hearing in DeKalb County General Sessions Court on October 11, Judge Brandon Cox found probable cause to bind the case to the DeKalb County Grand Jury. Bond for Martinez was later set by Criminal Court Judge Wesley Bray at $2 million.

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, who was present for the preliminary hearing in October, said afterward that prosecutors had not yet decided on the punishment to be sought against Martinez in the case.

The only witness to testify during the October preliminary hearing was TBI special agent Brandon Davenport, who was summoned to the scene the morning of the killing. He was questioned by Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong and Assistant Public Defender Allison West about what the investigation revealed.

Martinez, who apparently doesn’t speak English, sat quietly in the courtroom near the assistant public defender who represented him and an interpreter who was translating for him during Davenport’s testimony.

Davenport said he questioned Martinez after the killing, and he admitted getting into a domestic dispute with Guerra over allegations of infidelity. According to Davenport, Martinez claims to have pushed Guerra down during the struggle and that she grabbed the hammer and struck him with it. Martinez claims he then took the hammer away from Guerra and struck her once. Davenport said Martinez’s version of the story is not supported by the evidence in that the condition of Guerra’s body shows multiple blows to her head. After the killing, Martinez allegedly admitted to taking a shower and throwing away his bloody clothes. Three children were present in the home at the time of the killing and the oldest, a 14-year-old witnessed the attack and gave a statement to investigators.

November 14, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Blood Assurance will host a special blood drive on Monday, December 19 asking donors to step up and give blood but also to help raise money for God’s Food Pantry in Smithville. With each unit of blood collected, a $10 donation will be made by Blood Assurance and matched by DeKalb County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss.

The DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors “The Great Give Back” will be Monday, December 19 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the DeKalb Community Complex parking lot on the mobile. Donors will receive a “Christmas Plaid Blanket”. To schedule an appointment, visit bloodassurance.org/GODSFOODPANTRY or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jimposs72@yahoo.com. Please eat a good meal, drink additional water, avoid energy drinks, and bring your ID.

Trudy Cody, Blood Assurance donor recruiter/account manager said through this “Great Give Back” effort, Blood Assurance, with the help of County Clerk Poss, will be able to help further the pantry’s mission to feed the hungry and meet their other needs year-round.

“Blood Assurance supplies local hospitals with blood products, and we ask people every day to donate, and they are so good to come out and do that, but we also want to do a little something more for the community so each December we have a blood drive called the “Great Give Back” where we partner with a local charity or non-profit organization to help raise money for them. Jimmy (Poss), who partners with Blood Assurance for our Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Drives, suggested that for the December “Great Give Back” we raise money for God’s Food Pantry so for every donor, Blood Assurance will donate $10 and Jimmy will match. We were very proud to be able to help out,” said Cody.

“I have been working with Trudy for several years helping organize and promote the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors blood drives so when she called me it was an opportunity to participate with her on something special (Great Give Back). I told Trudy I would be glad to join and help and I would match whatever she collected to go to Gods Food Pantry to help them carry on their mission,” said County Clerk Poss.

“We are thankful for this donation,” said Zornow. “ We always need the cash to not only purchase food, but we pay for utilities and rent for those in need including the homeless. We use the money for other purposes too. Its not just for food. It’s the whole person approach. You can’t just give them food and let them live outside. There are so many needs out there and we don’t care what county they come from. We never ask. We just do whatever we need to do,” said Zornow.

God’s Food Pantry is located at 430 East Broad Street. Call 615-597-4540 to leave a message and someone will promptly return your call.

For more information about Blood Assurance visit https://www.bloodassurance.org/

November 14, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Twenty-three people were indicted by the new term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury Monday, November 14 along with one sealed indictment.

Those indicted will appear for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court on December 6.

The following persons indicted and their charges are as follows:

Angela Lynn Ayers-possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams

Tabatha Marie Batey-fraudulent use of a Credit or Debit Card over $1,000

Christopher Joe Bogle-theft of services over $2,500

Mark Enik Childs- driving under the influence

Casandra Kay George- false report

Steven Blake Goad- driving under the influence (3rd offense) and possession of a prohibited weapon

Deviyon Quawnyah Johnson-Griffin- forgery, theft of property over $1,000, criminal simulation

Daniel Derrick Hill- violation of an order of protection (3 counts)

Tyler Blake Hollingsworth-possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule I (Fluorofentanyl) and possession of drug paraphernalia

Cassidy Renee Judkins-theft of property-shoplifting

Molly Sue Lawrence- theft of services over $1,000

Brandon Matthew Lee-aggravated assault (2 counts)

David Brian Martin-possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule VI drug (marijuana)

Melisha Renea Martin- possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule I (Papa-Fluorofentanyl), possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule II drug (methamphetamine)

Simon Rodriguez Martinez-first degree murder

Jonathan Lee Pedigo- child abuse (2 counts)

Jackie Marie Ray- driving under the influence

Carlos Restrepo-rape of a child (2 charges)

Aubrey Glenn Rigsby- evading arrest

Haley Jada Sosa- driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia

Lacy Lee West- driving under the influence (4th offense), DUI per se, driving on a revoked license (2nd offense), and violation of an order of protection.

Markus Anthony Williams-domestic assault

Candice Denise Walker-driving under the influence

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