On April 8, 1995, Domingo Perez, a 29-year-old Hispanic male from Earlimart, California, was reported missing by his family. Nearly two months later, on May 23, 1995, his body was discovered in an orange grove just north of Richgrove, California. An autopsy revealed that he had been shot multiple times, indicating a deliberate and violent homicide. The discovery of his body in a remote agricultural area suggested that his death may have been connected to organized criminal activity.
Investigations into Domingo Perez's murder eventually led to the arrest of Jose Manuel Martinez, also known as "El Mano Negro." Martinez, a 51-year-old resident of Richgrove, California, was charged on April 8, 2014, with nine counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, including the killing of Domingo Perez. The charges against Martinez encompassed crimes committed across multiple counties in California, including Tulare, Kern, and Santa Barbara. Martinez was also charged with special circumstance allegations such as multiple murders, lying in wait, kidnapping, and murder for financial gain, making him eligible for the death penalty.
Martinez's criminal activities spanned several decades, with his earliest known murder dating back to 1980. His victims were primarily Hispanic males, and the killings often involved multiple gunshot wounds. The pattern and execution of the murders suggested that Martinez operated as a contract killer, possibly affiliated with drug trafficking organizations. His arrest and subsequent prosecution brought some measure of justice to the families of his victims, including that of Domingo Perez.
: https://tularecounty.ca.gov/sheriff/media/news-releases/press-release-regarding-jose-manuel-martinez-el-mano-negro/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Press Release Regarding Jose Manuel Martinez, "El Mano Negro" - Tulare. .."
