NewsPolk County

Actions

Man wanted for murder captured in Polk County is also suspect in a separate murder case

Enrique Martinez
Posted at 7:02 AM, Jan 23, 2024
and last updated 2024-01-23 17:47:16-05

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A man wanted on one murder charge and is believed to be involved with a second murder was taken into custody just after 4 p.m. in Polk County Tuesday.

Enrique Martinez, 26, faces a murder charge for allegedly killing a man at a homeless camp on November 8, 2023. He is also now a suspect in the murder of Sierra Hernandez, 20, who went missing on Jan. 14 but is believed to have been killed days prior.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said detectives saw Martinez casually walking down the sidewalk north of Eagle Lake. Sheriff Judd said detectives were shocked to find him walking down the sidewalk in the open.

A perimeter was set up and Judd said Martinez surrendered without incident.

Officials previously said that Martinez has a criminal history dating back to 2011, with 13 felonies and 15 misdemeanors. He spent five years in prison for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and battery domestic violence but was released in 2022.

Most recently, Martinez was arrested for battery domestic violence and resisting arrest in 2023 and was released on bond.


ABC Action News Mugshot Policy

When a mugshot is used
If the person is still on the loose and a potential threat to the community; if there is a good chance that showing the suspect would help identify additional victims or otherwise protect the public from a serious threat or if the crime or the suspect is of such a significant note that seeing them in a mugshot is in the greater public interest.

Using previous mugshots
Only if the story is specifically talking about that previous crime

We do not show mugshots of victims

This policy started in early 2021