Raymond Martinez Fernandez: The Lonely Hearts Killer
Early Life
Raymond Martinez Fernandez was born on December 17, 1914, in Hawaii to Spanish parents. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Connecticut. As an adult, Fernandez relocated to Spain, married a woman named Encarnacion Robles, and had four children. During World War II, he served in the Spanish merchant marine and later worked for British intelligence. In late 1945, while en route to the United States seeking employment, Fernandez suffered a severe head injury when a steel hatch fell on him aboard a ship. This accident caused a significant skull fracture, potentially affecting his social and sexual behavior. After his release from the hospital, he was imprisoned for theft, during which he was introduced to voodoo and black magic by a Haitian cellmate. Fernandez later claimed that these practices granted him irresistible charm over women.
Criminal Partnership with Martha Beck
In 1947, Fernandez began corresponding with Martha Beck through a lonely hearts club. Beck, born on May 6, 1920, in Milton, Florida, had a troubled past marked by obesity and allegations of sexual abuse. She trained as a nurse but struggled to find employment due to her weight, eventually working as an undertaker's assistant. Beck had two children from previous relationships and was known for her fascination with romance novels and films. Upon meeting Fernandez, she became infatuated and left her children at the Salvation Army to be with him. Fernandez confessed his criminal activities to Beck, who eagerly became his accomplice. She often posed as his sister, adding an air of respectability to their schemes. Their modus operandi involved luring women through personal ads, gaining their trust, and then stealing their money and possessions. Beck's jealousy often led to violent outcomes, especially when Fernandez became intimate with their victims.
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