GILBERT, AZ -- A young Gilbert father was indicted Thursday in the death of his two-month-old daughter.
Twenty-year-old Ricky Martinez has now been charged with first degree murder, child abuse and domestic violence.
Police said Martinez was arrested Friday, November 13, after the death of his two-month-old daughter.
Martinez reported that his baby fell off a bed when he went to change the infant's diaper November 8.
He was reportedly with other family members watching football games at the time, according to Sgt. Mark Marino with the Gilbert Police Department.
"My daughter fell off the bed," Martinez told a 911 operator, in a recording ABC15 obtained through a public records request. "Her head is really (expletive) up."
Martinez said he was calling from a nearby fire station, with his fiancé and his daughter in the car.
"She hit her head," asked the operator.
"Yea, she hit her head when she fell off the bed," replied Martinez.
"OK, what did she hit her head on," continued the operator. "Was it a tile floor?"
"No, it was the ground," Martinez said. "It was carpet."
The infant was taken to a hospital where she remained on life support until she died on the morning of November 12.
Police said it was determined the girl's massive head injuries were not consistent with a fall from a bed to a carpeted floor, and arrested Martinez for first degree murder and child abuse.
People in the quiet Gilbert neighborhood, in the 800 block of W. Laurel Avenue, were shocked to see a crime scene at the home Martinez shared with his parents, fiancé and an 18-month-old child.
"I'm flabbergasted at the whole second child thing," said Jeff Buckhannon, who lives nearby. "I was really hoping that he didn't have any more."
According to police, Child Protective Services is involved, and Martinez's other child is now staying with relatives.
"Anyone that kills anybody, especially a baby, I think should be prosecuted to the highest degree," Buckhannon said. "And if it comes out to be that it was first degree murder, I think that he should be charged with the death penalty."
Other neighbors took a gentler stance.
"He's not convicted yet, so we really have to wait and see what happens," said James Olenski, who lives down the street. "And wait until all the evidence is out."
Police are continuing their investigation by talking to other family members who were home at the time.
Marino did not say whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
