This morning I wrote an article about little 2 year old Luis Martinez missing from Valrico Florida. His parents, Juan Martinez and Rosalina Ramirez reported him missing around 3 pm Friday.
Authorities along with hundreds of volunteers started searching for little Luis Friday afternoon and started again Saturday morning. They were using dogs, horses and even helicopters looking for him.
Hillsborough County Sheriff, David Gee said they found the body of the two year old child in a septic tank behind a vacant mobile home, Saturday afternoon. “We have the body of the small child in the hole,†said Gee at a news conference. “Right now we are not able to open that for a little while.â€
It was later confirmed by the county medical examiner that it was indeed the body of little Luis Martinez. I heard about a body being found but I was waiting for confirmation before writing this. My heart is aching for his family.
It was brought to the attention about the septic tank when a Dover based septic tank company was hired to suction the tank out. Apparently the tank’s cover had an unsealed drain hole which some came to the conclusion the boy could have fallen into it. Gee said that grass had grown over the septic tank near the area where the child was last seen playing. The septic tank had a takeout plug about 11 inches in diameter that had probably been missing for several years. The sheriff said the grass had grown over it and it was very difficult to see.
Little Luis often played at the neighbor’s house. According to Col. Greg Brown, “He had the run of the place.†Brown said the child went to the neighbor’s home to get some ice cream from them Friday.
A candlelight vigil was held tonight after his body was found. Once again my heart goes to the family of Luis Martinez. Please pray for them. Such a precious child they had. May God be with them all.
Jan Barrett
9 users commented in " Update – Luis Martinez’s Body Found Saturday Afternoon "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI have been thinking about the parents of Luis, since he went missing. Now, I can’t help thinking how are those neighbors going to get thru this, too. Will pray for them all.
Thanks Jan for the update. This is sad. May the Lord comfort these parents and his neighbors.
Jan – Thanks for posting little Luis Martinez’ story and tragic update.
These atrocities due to neglect, abductions, preditory behavior, child porn and murders are occurring at alarming rate today. Prayer has not brought these children safely home and we need to take the problem into our own hands. We can change our helplessness to action by signing petitions and supporting organizations that make a difference like the Polly Klaas Foundation. The problem is too overwhelming for us to tackle alone – we need to unite and organize.
Mark Klaas has been instrumental in prevention of crimes against children, and finding missing children. When his daughter,
Polly, was kidnapped in 1993, the average convicted child molester spent only 2.2 years in prison, there was no Amber Alert system. If there was, Polly would still be alive as police had this man stopped and let him go, not knowing what had occurred, or that during the stop, Polly was tied up, just up the hill, still alive. There was no public sex offender registry, no requirement to register every 3 months or face felony charges.
For those of us who do not have the
time to fight this on our own, please donate to an organization who is active in the fight or see if you can volunteer. We need standardization in sentencing with zero tolerance (life sentence) for offenders who commit violent acts against a child. We need all states to participate in adding ALL offenders to the offender registry. The Adam Walsh Act requires state prisons to notify states attorneys when predators are about to be released so they can then petition the court for continued confinement and stop preditors like Anthony Garrido from being released in 10 years from two life sentences!
I hope it is alright to post this link to donate to the Polly Klaas Foundation: https://secure.vwswebs.com/klaaskids/pg-help.htm
You may also be interested in reading the section on Legislation to see how far this organization has come in the fight against child abduction.
Jan could you please get this out there as well. I know we have some people on here from Florida. This is from wftv.
Police Searching For 3-Year-Old Abducted By Father
Posted: 9:24 pm EST November 28, 2009
Updated: 1:05 pm EST November 29, 2009
Comment On This Story ››
COCOA, Fla. — Cocoa police are asking for help in finding a father, accused of kidnapping his own son.
Investigators say Paul Martikainen was at a supervised visit with his 3 year-old son, Luke Finch, at the Riverfront Park in Cocoa, on Saturday afternoon. Martikainen is required to have supervised visits, because of past child abuse allegations concerning his son.
But police say Martikainen somehow slipped away from the supervised visit, with the young boy.
Authorities believe he may be driving a 90’s model Ford Explorer, with a possible Florida tag of 142 KEA.
If you’ve seen Martikainen or his son, call Cocoa Police at 321-639-7620. When prompted, press “4”.
This child is in extreme danger. The father is abusive to the child which is why he had supervised visitations in the first place. Someone wasn’t doing their job.
got it Paw at http://www.bloggernews.net/123134
Thanks 🙂
Jan Barrett
While this may not be a popular sentiment while the parents are grieving the horrific loss of a child…what other parents here think it is okay to let a 2 year old outside unsupervised?
The parents are IMO guilty of neglect. No child that young should be wandering around the neighborhood (trailer court?) unsupervised.
This is a loss that could have been prevented by parental supervision, and by that property owner maintaining his septic tank cover.
I just don’t understand people not watching over children this young more carefully.
To be honest, I’m still trying to figure out why a drain hole (should be near the bottom of the septic tank) would be on the top, where a child could fall into it. I’d be interested to see just how easily he was able to “slide” in there. I’ve heard of people putting bodies into these things to get rid of them quickly (The bacteria from the urine & feces decomposes the tissue quicker) There have been some speculation that this has been Haleigh’s fate. I so hope not. \So sorry to you little Luis. May you rest in God’s loving embrace.
please help us get this out I would really like for people to remember what happen to this little boy all most a year ago ty.
silver lake rd
Valrico, FL
In Memory Of 2 year old Luis Martinez
This is a event I am creating in memory of a 2 year old boy who was killed by falling in a septic tank near his home. he went missing on Nov. 27,2009 and was found on that Sat. Nov.28,2009. So this year for the 1 year anniversary of little Luis is death I am doing a candle little memorial service. You may bring a candle or we will have one for you. I will have the mom and dad out there as I have become very close with them she is due to have another baby and is hoping it looks like little Luis.
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