Santiago Martinez sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility in 15 years for murdering his wife in 2021

Posted on 11/23/2022

Defendant: Santiago Martinez

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kim Brown on Monday sentenced Santiago Martinez to the statutorily mandated life in prison with parole eligibility in 15 years for the murder of his wife, Alexandria Berrios.

A Franklin County jury found Martinez guilty of the 2021 murder on Nov. 4.

Martinez and Berrios were in the middle of a divorce when they took a walk together in Darby Creek Metro Park on March 22, 2021. According to Martinez, Berrios told him that she had been unfaithful many years earlier while he was living in the U.S. and she was still in El Salvador. Martinez responded by beating her with a log. She remained in a vegetative state until her death on May 2, 2021.

Martinez’s and Berrios’ three adult children spoke at the sentencing, describing Berrios as a wonderful mother and characterizing Martinez as an abusive, unfaithful husband.