A Nevada man will serve life in prison for throwing his daughter from a balcony and setting his apartment ablaze.
In October 2024, a jury found Clarence Martin Jr., 37, guilty of killing his 2-month-old daughter, London, by throwing her from the second-floor balcony of their apartment.
Martin’s defense claimed he was in the midst of a mental health crisis and requested a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years. District Judge Carli Kierny, however, sentenced him to life with the possibility of parole after 49 and a half years.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Kierny called the case “the worst case I’ve ever seen. It boggles my mind.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the incident happened in 2020, at an apartment home at the Positano Apartments in Las Vegas, a little after 4 a.m., according to Metropolitan Police Department homicide Lt. Ray Spencer.
Responding officers found the baby’s mother, Nicole Poole, cradling the girl in the parking lot when they arrived. The infant was later pronounced dead at St. Rose Hospital and Medical Center.
Investigators said the baby fell over 22 feet to her death.
Spencer said detectives believe Martin and Poole were arguing when he “grabbed the child from the mother, walked outside and threw the baby from the second story balcony onto the asphalt below.”
Poole said she was sleeping with London when Martin began kicking them. She got up and took the baby with her into the living room and sat on the couch, but Martin followed her and snatched London from her arms.
Martin then walked to the balcony with the baby and returned a few seconds later without her, according to what Poole told police.
Poole rushed downstairs and located London, then ran with the baby in her arms, fearing Martin would chase her.
“Poole ran outside and discovered her baby laying on the ground in the parking area,” the police report read. “She ran down and picked her baby up, ran southbound through the complex because she thought Martin was chasing her.”
Martin, who stayed behind in the apartment, set it on fire and drove away in Poole’s car. A neighbor said they heard Martin yell expletives as he got into the vehicle, Fox 5 Vegas reports.
“Burn, b****, burn. This is what you get for cheating on me,” Martin allegedly yelled.
Inside the apartment, the family pet, a white poodle, was locked inside a cage when Martin set the apartment on fire. Police said the dog likely died from heat and smoke exposure.
Martine fled the scene but police captured him At around 4 a.m. at the airport.
In addition to murder, Martin faced multiple convictions, including:
– Two counts of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm
– First-degree arson
– Cruelty to animals
– Three counts of battery with a deadly weapon
– Battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm
– Attempted murder with a deadly weapon
– Assault with a deadly weapon
– Attempted murder with a deadly weapon against a victim aged 60 or older
– Battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm against a victim aged 60 or older
On Tuesday, Poole spoke to the judge about how losing her daughter changed her, stating she no longer feels like the same person. She also admitted she was unsure of what the right punishment for Martin should be.
”He just needs help,” Poole said..
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[Feature Photo: London Martin/GoFundMe]
