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Marine commits suicide; wife badly beaten

Updated Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Sheriff’s deputies found Sgt. Braulio V. Martinez, a 28-year-old Marine sergeant dead in the garage of his home in the 600 block of Elbrook Drive at 1:43 p.m. Monday, October 27. According to Sheriff’s Homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos, Martinez committed suicide by hanging.

The scene was discovered when two representatives from Camp Pendleton came to do a welfare check on the Marine, an active duty sergeant, when he failed to report on base at his assigned time of 7:30 Monday morning.

“They noticed that both [the Marine's and his wife's] vehicles were in the driveways,” said Brugos. “They alerted the Sheriff's office and when deputies went in they found the Marine dead in the garage. He had hung himself.”

The Sheriff’s deputies conducted a search of the home and found Martinez’ wife unconscious, having suffered blunt force trauma injuries to the head. Brugos estimated that the woman is in her mid-20s.

The woman was alive but unconscious and her condition was deemed critical. She was airlifted to Palomar Medical Center. Her condition is unknown, but Brugos said “whoever injured her injured her intending death.”

Investigators have not determined what type of weapon was used to injure her.

Once investigators began arriving on the scene, neighbors started voicing their concern for the couple's twin 5-year-olds. The children, known to have special needs, were not at home.

Officials say the children were found safe at another Fallbrook residence where they were being babysat. Child Protective Services was called to check on the children's wellbeing.

Brugos said investigators did find a note at the home, “possibly a suicide-type.” He also said records are being researched to see if the couple had a history of domestic disputes.

According to sources on Camp Pendleton, Martinez was a native of Hidalgo, Texas, who served as the Safety noncommissioned officer for Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. He joined the Marine Corps November 10, 2003, and was deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Martinez earned the following awards during his 59 months of service: Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

The full name of Martinez’ wife has not been released. Authorities say she remains in critical condition in an area hospital.

(Earlier version of story below)

Monday, October 27, 2008

Sheriff’s deputies discovered a Marine dead in the garage of his home in the 600 block of Elbrook Drive in Fallbrook at 1:43 p.m. today. According to Sheriff’s Homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos, the Marine, said to be mid-20s to mid-30s in age, committed suicide by hanging.

Brugos said after the Marine did not report for work on Camp Pendleton at his scheduled time of 7:30 this morning, two representatives from the Base made a welfare check on him at his home.

“They noticed that both [the Marine’s and his wife’s] vehicles were in the driveway,” said Brugos. “They alerted the Sheriff’s office and when deputies went in, they found the Marine dead in the garage. He had hung himself.”

Officers then conducted a search of the house and found the Marine’s wife unconscious, suffering from blunt force trauma injuries, in a back room of the dwelling. Brugos estimated the wife’s age to be mid-20s.

“She was still alive but unconscious and was airlifted to an area hospital,” Brugos said. “Whoever injured her injured her intending death.”

Brugos said the woman’s condition is unknown at this time and said investigators have not determined what type of weapon was used to injure her.

Shortly after officers arrived at the crime scene, concern was voiced about the whereabouts of the couple’s twin 5-year-olds, who were not at the scene. Officials now say the children have been found safe at another residence in Fallbrook.

Brugos said investigators did find a note at the home, “possibly a suicide-type.” He also said records are being researched to see if the couple had a history of domestic disputes.

The identities of the man and woman have not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Watch this Web site for more updates as they become available.

 

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