Prosecutors Detail 'Methodical Slaughter' Of Gage Park Family
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cook County prosecutors laid out the grisly details of how a young man killed six relatives in February, after he and his girlfriend went to the family's home to rob them of a few hundred dollars to buy milk and diapers for their own baby.
Diego Uribe, 22, and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Jafeth Ramos, were charged with six counts of first-degree murder in the slayings of six of Uribe's relatives.
It was Feb. 4 when police found the bodies of 62-year-old Noe Martinez Sr.; his wife, 58-year-old Rosaura Martinez; their son, 38-year-old Noe Martinez Jr; their daughter 32-year-old Maria Herminia Martinez; and her two sons, 13-year-old Leonardo Cruz and 10-year-old Alexis Cruz.
In denying Uribe and Ramos Bail, Cook County Judge James Brown called the killings "an act of barbarism" and something that "only can be described as pure evil."
Prosecutors said Uribe went to the Martinez home with Ramos to rob his relatives, but the robbery then stretched out into a three-hour bloodbath inside the bungalow in the 5700 block of South California Avenue.
"This was a methodical slaughter of six human beings," Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said after Friday's bond hearing.
Uribe and Ramos allegedly sat down to eat with the victims before carrying out the murders. Prosecutors said Uribe later demanded money from Maria Martinez, and shot her several times when she refused.
When her brother, Noe Jr., heard the gunshots and ran upstairs, Uribe allegedly overpowered him, and then knocked out Rosaura Martinez when she also ran upstairs to intervene.
Uribe then allegedly grabbed several knives from the kitchen, and stabbed Noe Jr., Rosaura, Leonardo, and Alexis to death.
As Uribe was stabbing Leonardo, the boy begged for his life, according to prosecutors.
Ramos allegedly told police the boy told Uribe "Please no! Please don't! I just want to live!"
Uribe then waited for Noe Sr. to come home from buying tamales. He allegedly stabbed Noe Sr. in the stomach as he walked into the house. Prosecutors said Noe Sr. asked "Why are you killing me? I don't owe you anything" as Uribe killed him, and then stole his wallet.
Prosecutors said the proceeds of the robbery included $250 in cash, including money from a piggy bank, along with cell phones, an Xbox, and jewelry Uribe allegedly pawned for $150. They allegedly used the money they stole to buy milk and diapers for their own baby.
Authorities have said both Cruz and Ramos gave recorded confessions admitting to the murders.
Ramos allegedly told police she knew Uribe would kill the entire family, because he was still angry Rosaura Martinez had divorced his uncle.
Investigators got the break they needed in the case this week, when DNA tests linked Uribe to the killings. Cell phone records already had connected Uribe and Ramos to the crime.
