Little baby London was murdered by her dad (Image: Mirror US)
A father shockingly murdered his two-month-old baby girl by hurling her from a second-floor balcony and subsequently setting an apartment ablaze, resulting in the death of his fiancée’s pet dog.
Clarence Martin Jr was handed a life sentence, despite his defence team’s argument that he was undergoing a mental health crisis at the time.
District Judge Carli Kierny sentenced him to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 49 and a half years, at the request of the prosecution.
The arrest report provides a chilling account of the incident. Back in October 2020, Martin’s fiancée, Nicole, called 911 around 3.40am, alleging that he had thrown their infant daughter, London, from their second-floor flat in Nevada, US.
She informed the police that Martin took the child to the balcony and returned moments later without her. In a state of panic, she rushed downstairs only to find the baby motionless on the ground following a 22-foot fall, according to Mirror US reports.
32-year-old Clarence Martin Jr was handed a life sentence for his horrific crimes (Image: Mirror US)
A neighbour attempted CPR until medical assistance arrived, but doctors at a local hospital declared the child dead, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
A witness claimed to have seen Martin exiting the apartment shouting, “burn, (expletive) burn. This is what you get for cheating on me”, as per KVVU reports.
Martin also allegedly ignited a fire in the living room, leading to the death of a caged dog, presumably due to heat and smoke inhalation.
As the flames engulfed the apartment, filling it with smoke, seven other flats had to be evacuated while Clark County firefighters tackled the blaze, reports the Mirror.
The couple had been together for four years (Image: Facebook)
In a dramatic episode reported by Fox, Martin instigated pandemonium on the streets as he collided with two cars and subsequently sparked a high-speed police pursuit which culminated at the airport.
It was there that an employee noticed Martin’s bare chest as he covertly entered a secure zone via the baggage conveyor belt system.
The chaos didn’t stop as he found a TSA officer’s shirt in a break room and put on on a yellow hi-vis vest, leaving behind his own trousers. On the airfield itself, Martin was caught loading items into an American Airlines vehicle just before he was apprehended by the authorities.
The balcony (Image: Mirror US)
In custody, he could be heard shouting, “Burn (expletive). Jefferys Street, Jefferys Street.”
His fiancée, who had stood by him throughout four years, informed officers that she was aware of his mental health history but hadn’t witnessed any concerning behavior until three days before this incident.
She recounted the harrowing morning where she experienced him kicking at her and their baby before attempting to escape with their daughter in tow.
Legal documents shed light on Martin’s diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. His attorney, Betsy Allen, reported to District Judge Carli Kierny that Martin’s psychological wellbeing had been on the decline since losing his job due to the pandemic.
Parker Brooks, the Chief Deputy District Attorney, while acknowledging Martin’s significant mental health issues, urged the court to consider the suffering endured by the victims, London and her mother. He admitted the impossibility of reversing the tragic outcome.
The judge presiding over the case, Kierny, was evidently shaken by the horrific nature of the crimes, stating in court: “I don’t say this lightly – this is the worst case I’ve ever seen. It boggles my mind.”
Martin, who was initially found guilty by a jury last October, faced multiple grave accusations related to the death of the infant, which included two counts of child abuse, neglect or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm, first-degree arson, cruelty to animals, various assault and battery charges with deadly ramifications, and an attempt at murder using a deadly weapon, as described in official court documents.