State Police officers and Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating two deaths that could have been overdoses.
Deputies are investigating the Feb. 2 death of Molly Martinez, 51, in La Mesilla, while State Police are investigating the death of Ernestine Martinez, 44, on Nov. 10, 2015, in Española.
Officer Craig Yazzie wrote he was first dispatched to Molly Martinez’s death after her 13 year old daughter ran to the uncle’s house, after she found her mother unresponsive.
Molly Martinez was face-down on her bed and when her body was moved by an investigator from the Office of the Medical Investigator, Molly Martinez was found to be clutching a bowl of cereal to her chest.
“I also located her small tub of prescription medication,” Yazzie wrote.
He found 13 different prescription drugs, including three powerful depressants and two anti-inflammatory drugs that can have serious interactions with alcohol.
“We were later informed by the family that Ms. Martinez had to take prescription Oxycodon,” Yazzie wrote. “Deputy Smith and I searched for the prescription, with the assistance of the family, but we were unable to locate it.”
In the kitchen, he found five empty beer bottles and in the freezer, an almost-empty bottle of vodka.
Yazzie also talked to her boyfriend, Donald Mullally, who left the morning of her death at 12:30 a.m.
“Both parties informed me that Ms. Martinez did have a number of medical problems that forced her to take numerous prescription medications,” Yazzie wrote. “They informed me that Ms. Martinez had broken spinal discs, shifted pelvis, knee trouble, and suffered from depression.”
The brother who called 911, Isauro Madrid, said she recently complained about being tired, but was otherwise physically fine.
“At time of this report, no foul play was observed and no further information was obtained at this time from the family or the medical investigator,” Yazzie wrote. “Photographs were taken of the scene. Results pending from the Office of the Medical Investigator.”
The Office of the Medical Investigator conducts autopsies for all deaths in the state that are not deemed to be obviously natural, to determine the means, manner and cause of death.
Possible heroin overdose
Ernestine Martinez’s roommate, Leann Romero, found her unconscious on the floor of their kitchen at 9:50 the morning of her death, Nov. 10, 2015, State Police Officer Christopher Beavers wrote in an incident report.
Romero told Beavers she had been living at Ernestine Martinez’s house for a month and at 8:40 that morning, she went to see her probation officer.
When she came back at 9:30 a.m., Ernestine Martinez was on the kitchen floor.
“Ms. Romero rolled Ms. Martinez over and heard a gasp for air,” he wrote. “She called 911 at that moment. She waited till law enforcement and medical personnel arrived.”
Emergency responders tried to revive her, but she did not respond to their efforts, he wrote.
“There was an uncapped needle located by Ms. Martinez’s left hand,” Beavers wrote. “The Office of Medical Investigator was notified, and advised they were en route to this location. Located in the bedroom of Ms. Martinez were numerous needles, some cotton balls with blood, and sharps containers. Also located in the bedroom and bathroom of Ms. Martinez, were prescription pills prescribed to Ms. Martinez.”
Cotton balls are used to strain particulates from cooked heroin, before it is injected.
Romero told Beavers that their mutual friend, Marvin Vigil, had been at the house when she left to talk to her probation officer, and that Martinez had a history of heroin use.
Vigil came back to the house and told Beavers he left at 8:50 a.m., and had come to collect $60 Ernestine Martinez owed him.
“He said as he walked out of her residence, Ms. Martinez followed him to the door, and she went to her bedroom,” Beavers wrote.
Beavers wrote Vigil said he was aware of Ernestine Martinez’s heroin addiction.
Ernestine Martinez’s cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Office of the Medical Investigator.