In the early hours of July 2, 2024, a 911 dispatch operator in Archuleta County, Colorado, received an emergency call from the phone of 38-year-old Chrystal Snow. The line was open, but no one spoke; only the sound of faint breathing could be heard. When sheriff's deputies arrived at her home west of Pagosa Springs, they discovered a tragic scene. Snow was found deceased in the bathroom of her master bedroom, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her arm, chest, and leg.
A neighbor later reported hearing gunfire and seeing a vehicle speeding away from the residence with its passenger door still open.
Chrystal, a beloved mother and dedicated family services director for the Pagosa Community Initiative, was remembered by friends and family as a kind and tenacious woman with a deep love for her community. Her commitment to helping others left a significant impact on those she worked with. However, her personal life was fraught with turmoil. In the time leading up to her death, Snow had expressed fear for her safety and had obtained restraining orders against her estranged husband, Charles Christopher Martinez, and their 17-year-old son, Hevon Martinez. She was in the process of seeking sole custody of her younger son and had plans to file for full custody the very day she was killed. The night before her death, she had been messaging with Charles Martinez about the custody of their child.
The investigation into Chrystal Snow's death, led by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, quickly focused on her estranged husband and teenage son. In early July, Hevon Martinez was arrested on separate charges, and during a juvenile detention hearing, it was revealed he was considered a suspect in his mother's murder. Following the homicide, Snow's 5-year-old son was reported missing and endangered, believed to be with his father. The child was found safe nine days later. In late October 2024, both Charles Martinez, 43, and Hevon Martinez were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Chrystal Snow's death. The teenage son will be charged as an adult. The investigation highlighted a recent history of domestic violence involving Snow and the two individuals accused of ending her life.
