David Martinez, a 36-year-old Hispanic man from Donna, Texas, was a loving husband to his wife, Angela, and a father to their four children: sons David Jr. and Richard, and daughters Leeya Cantu and Jasmine Martinez. He was born on September 20, 1987, and was remembered by his family and community before his life was cut short in the summer of 2024.
On the morning of July 15, 2024, McAllen police received an emergency call at 10:55 a.m.
reporting a death inside a residence on the 1300 block of South 19 ½ Street. When officers arrived, they discovered David Martinez deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. A homicide investigation was launched immediately at the scene.
The investigation quickly led police to two Donna residents, 30-year-old Nathan Germain and 31-year-old Carmen Lizeth Valdez. In a surprising turn, a police spokesperson revealed that the investigation determined that the individuals who had reported the death were the same people involved in the crime. Both Germain and Valdez were taken into custody.
Investigators pieced together the events using surveillance footage and other evidence. The video reportedly showed Germain and Valdez arriving at the residence in a white Chevrolet SUV. Germain was seen entering the home, after which multiple gunshots were heard. The two then promptly left the area. Text messages recovered from Valdez’s phone indicated that she had acted as a lookout for Germain while he was inside.
Both suspects were formally charged. Germain faced charges of murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence, with his bond set at $370,000. Valdez was charged with murder as well as several drug offenses, including possession of controlled substances, marijuana, and a dangerous drug. Her total bond was set at $201,000.
In March 2026, Carmen Lizeth Valdez accepted a plea deal for her role as the lookout during the shooting. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Her co-defendant, Nathan Germain, remained in custody. As of March 2026, his trial was scheduled to begin in June.
