Martha Kitzler, a 17-year-old female of mixed Nicaraguan and American descent, was murdered on May 28, 1984, in Hollywood, California. She was the half-sister of Mauricio Rodriguez Silva, a recently paroled convict with a history of violence. The two shared a home with other relatives, and Silva had been staying there intermittently following his release from prison earlier that month. On the morning of her death, Martha had spoken with her boyfriend, Flavio Alvarez, and arranged to meet him for lunch. When Alvarez arrived at the house, Silva answered the door and claimed Martha was in the shower. Moments later, Alvarez discovered Martha's body in her bedroom.
The 17-year-old female victim had been strangled, stabbed multiple times, and her throat was slit. Her body was partially covered with a towel and clothing. The bedroom appeared ransacked, though $2,700 in cash remained hidden under her mattress. An autopsy revealed that Martha Kitzler had suffered asphyxia, likely from manual strangulation, and postmortem stab wounds. There were also signs of recent vaginal trauma, suggesting possible sexual assault.
