Man Charged with First Degree Murder After Allegedly Beating his Girlfriend to Death with a Hammer

September 21, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 35-year-old man who allegedly beat his girlfriend to death with a hammer at their Smithville home early Wednesday morning has been charged with first degree murder.

Simon Rodriguez Martinez is being held without bond in the DeKalb County Jail in the death of 39-year-old Yuri Guerra. His court date is September 29.

The case is being investigated by the Smithville Police Department with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney General’s Office.

The incident occurred at the couple’s trailer home at 620 South Mountain Street.

“Wednesday morning around 5:45 a.m. the Smithville Police Department was dispatched to 620 South Mountain Street for a possible domestic,” said Police Chief Mark Collins. “Upon arrival officers found a female victim inside the home with obvious physical trauma. She was later pronounced dead at the scene. SPD also removed three children, ages 14, 5, and 5 months from the home and they were placed in the custody of the Department of Children Services. The victim was transported to the Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. An arrest has been made in the case. 35-year-old Simon Rodriguez Martinez has been charged with first degree murder and he is being held without bond. The investigation is still on-going. TBI and the DA’s Office are also helping with the case,” said Chief Collins.

According to the arrest warrant “On September 21 in the early morning hours Simon Rodriguez Martinez did intentionally, with malice and forethought murder Yuri Guerra by repeatedly hitting her in the head with a hammer. Martinez did admit to attempting to clean the blood up from the scene and take a shower. Martinez also admitted to moving the murder weapon from the scene as well as throwing the clothes he had been wearing in the trash. Martinez did confess to hitting Guerra with the hammer after an argument had begun. Martinez’s stepdaughter did state during a forensic interview that she witnessed Martinez hit her mother in the head several times with a hammer”.

September 21, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police have made three arrests in a vandalism investigation at Greenbrook Park.

Chief Mark Collins said 19-year-old Daisy Morales and 19-year-old Alex Diaz Vidal are each charged with vandalism over $1,000 and burglary. A juvenile was also involved and will be charged in a juvenile petition. Both Morales and Vidal have been released on their own recognizance and will appear in General Sessions Court on October 6.

The three are believed to have entered the park sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning and spray-painted vulgar graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment.

Greenbrook Park was closed Tuesday and is closed today (Wednesday) as city employees work to remove the paint.

“I want to commend my officers and detectives for getting on this case and making an arrest quickly,” said Chief Collins.

September 21, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County High School Golf Team competed in the AA District 7 Golf Tournament on Monday, September 19. Alison Poss and Brayden Summers both qualified for the Region Tournament. Alison Poss, a sophomore, shot an 81 to finish 4th out of 13 girls. Brayden Summers, a junior, shot 81 to finish 12th out of 34 boys. The girls team finished 4th and the boys team finished 7th.

“Alison and Brayden have played a lot of golf for DeKalb County. They are great kids and I wouldn’t trade them for anybody in the tournament,” said Head Golf Coach John Pryor.

The AA Region 4 Tournament will be held on Monday, September 26, at the Golden Eagle Golf Club in Cookeville. Brayden and Alison will be trying to qualify for the State Tournament held in Sevierville.

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