Apr 28, 2004 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – A 22-year-old Carmichaels man was charged Monday with the beating death of his 2-month-old son and was placed in the Greene County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond. Samuel Rene Martinez of 121 Park View Knoll, Carmichaels, was arraigned before District Justice Neil Canan on charges of voluntary manslaughter and two counts each of simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person, according to Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox.

The charges stem from the death of Martinez’s 2-month-old son, Arthur Martinez, Sunday night.

Cumberland Township Police Chief Bill Lewis said his office received a tip that a domestic disturbance was occurring at the Martinez residence Sunday evening. Lewis said that when patrolman Craig McKenzie responded to the home, the child was being loaded into an ambulance.

Lewis said that the responding officer returned to the station, but Lewis dispatched him sometime later to Greene County Memorial Hospital after Greene County Coroner Greg Rohanna informed the department the child had died and abuse was suspected.

According to an affidavit filed by McKenzie, the infant arrived at the hospital at 10:30 p.m. Sunday with “obvious” head injuries. Rohanna said the baby was pronounced dead in the hospital emergency room at 10:50 p.m. Sunday.

McKenzie said Martinez provided police with a written statement Monday, admitting to fracturing the child’s ribs and hitting the infant twice in the face because he was frustrated by the child’s crying Sunday evening. Martinez also admitted that he did not obtain immediate medical treatment for the child, according to the affidavit.

Lewis said that Martinez, a Venezuela native, has resided in the area only six months and has no prior criminal record. He added that the infant was the only child of Martinez and an 18-year-old woman who also lived at the residence.

Rohanna said his office is investigating the child’s death, and added that while an autopsy has been completed, findings are being withheld as the investigation continues. He did say the death was the “result of trauma of a non-accidental nature.”

Tuesday afternoon, Allegheny Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht, who performed the autopsy, revealed that the child had suffered injuries prior to those he sustained Sunday.

Fox said the state police at Waynesburg assisted Cumberland Township police Sunday, and both continue to investigate the incident.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m.

The child’s grandmother, Mabel Messer, declined to comment on the death late Tuesday night.