JOZLYNN MARTINEZ - 2 yo (2010) - Grand Rapids MI

The trial of Jeffrey Malmberg, accused of killing 2-year-old Jozlynn Martinez and disposing of her body, gets underway Monday with the selection of a jury.



In February, an Amber Alert was issued for Jozlynn. The investigation escalated, and Malmberg was arrested days later. Police say he has admitted to kneeling on Jozlynn inside a Grand Rapids home once he shared with a girlfriend -- now ex-girlfriend -- Connie Martinez. He also has said he disposed of the girl's body after she died. It was never found, despite days of searching. Malmberg, 30, refused a plea deal in May.

The murder case against Jeffrey Malmberg is set to begin Tuesday morning. He is accused of killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, Jozlynn Martinez, in February, and throwing the body in the garbage. Jurors were selected Monday and lawyers questioned them if they could make a fair judgment despite hearing the details of the case in the media. The prosecutors asked would-be jurors if they would be able to reach a verdict in the case based upon circumstantial evidence -- that is likely because Jozlynn's body was never found. Opening statements are expected Tuesday.

The trial of Jeffrey Malmberg, accused of killing and dumping 2-year-old Jozlynn Martinez in the trash, continues in a Grand Rapids courtroom for a fourth day Friday. The defense admits Malmberg killed the girl, but never intended to hurt her. Emotional recordings were played in court on Thursday between Malmberg and Jozlynn's mother, Connie Martinez. On the tape, Martinez told Malmberg she wants him to hurt the way Jozlynn was hurt.

Jeffrey Malmberg is going to jail.A Kent County Jury needed only 3 hours Monday to reach a verdict in the killing of 2-year-old Jozlynn Martinez.The guilty verdict on a second degree murder charge was what the prosecutor had been seeking. It could mean up to life with a chance of parole.Malmberg was also found guilty of larceny for taking his girlfriend's tax return that same night, and tampering with evidence for disposing of her body in a dumpster.The little girl's body has never been found.The family is satisfied with the verdict because they felt Malmberg showed no remorse."To me he was just like 'oh well, I did it, so what,' and he's got his now. We can only hope the judge will sentence him to the max," family spokesperson Cheryl Paulson said.

The family of 2-year-old Jozlynn Martinez is glad the jury found Jeffrey Malmberg guilty, but they still have unanswered questions.

"Connie wants Jozlynn so she can lay her to rest," said Cheryl Paulsen, the child's godmother. "That's all Connie wants. She said it is a little bit of closure, but it won't be until she can get her little baby home."

It took the jury less than three hours of deliberating before they found Malmberg, 40, guilty on the three charges he faced: second-degree murder, larceny and tampering with evidence.

Jozlynn died Fed. 22. Despite searches through Dumpsters and landfills, her body has not been found.

Malmberg, the former boyfriend of Jozlynn's mother, Connie Martinez, admitted during the trial he put his knee on the toddler's chest and then disposed of her body. But he didn't mean to kill her, he said.

"I didn't think I did anything major to hurt her," Malmberg said. "I wasn't trying to hurt her. I wasn't trying to hurt her."

His sentencing is set for November.

His lawyer, Jeffrey Kirchhoff, indicated he hadn't yet discussed it with his client but said he expects Malmberg to appeal.

"He showed no remorse," Paulsen said. "To me, he was like, 'oh well, I did it, oh well' -- and he's got his now. We can only hope that the judge will see and sentence him to the max."

Jeffrey Malmberg sentenced to 30 to 90 years in prison for killing Jozlynn Martinez, 2



GRAND RAPIDS -- Jeffrey Malmberg will spend 30 to 90 years in prison for killing 2-year-old Jozlynn Martinez on Feb. 22 and tossing the little girl in a Dumpster like she was so much garbage.

"Everything from the age of 3 until she is an adult, I will not be able to share those memories," said Connie Martinez, the mother of the slain child, before Judge Donald Johnston pronounced his sentence Tuesday. "(Malmberg) doesn't have compassion in his body to cry or mourn."

Read more.......
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/11/jeffrey_malmberg_sentenced_to.html

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - The mother of a murdered two-year-old girl has lost custody of her other child.
The state took Connie Martinez's one year old son when her older daughter, Jozlynn was murdered last winter.
In a custody hearing this morning, a judge terminated Connie's parental rights.
In December, the judge gave Martinez more time to improve her life so
she could regain custody of her son, but she did not meet those
demands.
Martinez's former boyfriend, Jeffrey Malmberg killed two year-old
Jozlynn Martinez last February. He is currently serving a life term in
prison.
Jozlynn's body was never found.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/154048/14/Mom-of-slain-girl-loses-custody-of-son

Posters note: I'm shocked they were even considering giving her back custody of her son.