News
News

Relative: Mother showed demons before stabbing and killing family

Isabel Martinez gestures towards news cameras during her first court appearance Friday, July 7, 2017, in Lawrenceville , Ga. Martinez is charged with killing four of her children and their father. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Isabel Martinez gestures towards news cameras during her first court appearance Friday, July 7, 2017, in Lawrenceville , Ga. Martinez is charged with killing four of her children and their father. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
By Craig Schneider and Christian Boone
July 25, 2017

How could a mother try to kill her entire family?

Days before Isabel Martinez allegedly stabbed and killed virtually her entire family, she was struggling with some demons of her own.

Depressed over the recent death of her father in Mexico, the Loganville mother spiraled into depression, said a family member. That depression was fueled by her intense religious beliefs.

What made the once gentle-natured Martinez change so radically?

Read more about Martinez and her charges at myajc.com.

WATCH:

About the Authors

Craig Schneider

A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.

Follow Christian Boone on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

People are silhouetted against a huge Pride flag before the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal

Atlanta Pride Parade: Meet some faces in the crowd

An estimated 100,000 people gathered in Midtown Atlanta — a wide range of LGBTQ+ people and allies — to celebrate diversity and inclusion at 2025’s Atlanta Pride Parade.

2h ago

The Latest

People are silhouetted against a huge Pride flag before the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Atlanta Pride Parade: Meet some faces in the crowd

2h ago

Trump administration is bringing back scores of CDC experts fired in error

Sweet Tea: Cute as a button

Featured

A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik

High Museum to showcase Amy Sherald’s uncensored retrospective next summer

Georgia-born Amy Sherald gained national attention when she pulled her solo National Portrait Gallery exhibit, citing censorship. Atlantans will get to see it in its entirety.

Police, GBI investigating off-duty officer killing man near Buckhead bar

An Atlanta officer responding to a "disruptive patron" call at the 5 Paces Inn shoots the man after seeing him take an item he believed to be a gun from a car, GBI says.

Monday madness guide: Falcons, Hawks to bring traffic to downtown Atlanta

Expect packed MARTA trains and traffic snarls around State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Big crowds of Bills fans are expected to descend on the city.