Flagstaff father sentenced to life in prison for 2020 starvation death of 6-year-old son

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — A Flagstaff man was sentenced to natural life in prison Friday for the starvation murder of his 6-year-old son in 2020.

The boy’s mom was also sentenced to life behind bars for the death last year. The details are horrific, and his brother barely survived the abuse.

One of the boys’ relatives shared her emotional reaction to Friday’s sentence.

Six-year-old Deshaun Martinez weighed just 18 pounds when he was found dead, breaking the heart of his great aunt, who he lived with before the family moved to Flagstaff.

While both parents have now been sentenced, there was an unexpected change in plea from a third person charged in this case.

It’s hard to imagine the suffering this adorable little boy experienced at the hands of his own parents.

Now, his father, Anthony Martinez, will join his mother in prison with a natural life sentence, too.

Elizabeth Archibeque, his mother, was sentenced to life in prison in July of last year after they were both found guilty of first-degree murder for Deshaun’s death in 2020.

Authorities say Deshaun and his 7-year-old brother were locked in a tiny bedroom closet for 16 hours a day for over a month as a punishment for stealing food at night while their parents slept.

Deshaun’s brother barely survived, yet police said the two younger daughters in the home were not abused.

Elizabeth and Anthony initially attributed their sons’ malnourished state to a medical condition and ingesting diet pills for several weeks.

Flagstaff Police reported finding the 6-year-old unresponsive after his paternal grandmother, Ann Martinez, called 911 and said it appeared her younger grandson was dead.

Ann Martinez was also charged in the case, and just this week, changed her plea to guilty for manslaughter and attempted child abuse.

The boys’ great-aunt said a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, knowing Anthony and Elizabeth will pay for their actions by spending the rest of their lives behind bars, while never letting Deshaun’s memory leave her heart.

In addition to the life sentence, Anthony Martinez was given another 68 years for other charges, including child abuse and kidnapping.

As for his mother, Ann Martinez, she’s looking at a minimum of 10 years in prison and her sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 23.

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