Edward Martinez, 53, has been sentenced to nine life sentences for sexually abusing at least six girls under the age of 12.
He often met these children through friends or family members. He committed these crimes over 25 years, from 1996 to 2021... Continue reading here ▶
The youngest victim was only 4 years old, and the oldest was 12.
A Missouri judge gave Martinez the sentence on Thursday, after a jury found him guilty in September of child molestation, statutory rape, and statutory sodomy.
The prosecutor, Dan Patterson, described Martinez as a “serial child molester.”
Prosecutors explained that Martinez would give the girls and their families gifts and money to gain their trust and access to the children.
He denied the accusations, claiming the girls were lying because he had been found not guilty of similar charges in the 1990s. However, the jury quickly found him guilty and recommended the nine life sentences.
One of the victims’ mothers, Leanna Bremenkamp, whose daughter was molested by Martinez, a family friend, said she confronted him in court, telling him she wouldn’t stop until he was brought to justice.
A police detective, James Stephenson, revealed that Martinez’s abuse started even earlier, 37 years ago, suggesting he had been abusing children for most of his adult life, targeting young and vulnerable individuals.
