Update: Investigation Continues After Newborn Found Deceased at Kingsville Walmart
Kingsville Police Department
KINGSVILLE, TEXAS (News Release) - The Kingsville Police Department continues its investigation into the tragic discovery of a deceased newborn at the Kingsville Wal-Mart on Monday evening, July 14, 2025.
As previously reported, officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at 10:22 p.m. after a Wal-Mart employee located a newborn inside a restroom trash can. Despite lifesaving efforts by store staff and responding officers, the infant was later pronounced deceased at Christus Spohn Hospital–Kleberg.
Initial investigation, including review of surveillance footage, led officers to identify and locate a 17-year-old female and her father, Jerry Lee Martinez, 45, of Mathis, Texas. Martinez was arrested and charged that evening with Abandoning/Endangering a Child – Criminal Negligence and was initially given a $5,000 bond.
On Tuesday evening, two additional charges were filed against Martinez:
• Tampering with a Witness
• Tampering with Physical Evidence
Each of these charges carried an initial bond of $1,000.
On the morning of Thursday, July 17, 2025, a hearing was held in the 105th District Court before Judge Jack Pulcher.
After review, the Court raised the bond amount on all three charges to $100,000 each. Jerry Lee Martinez remains in custody at the Kleberg County Jail. At this time, specific details surrounding the new charges are not being released, as the investigation remains ongoing. The 17-year-old female is not in custody and is currently in a secure location.
The Mathis Police Department is also conducting investigations related to this case, in coordination with Kingsville Police investigators.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Kingsville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (361) 593-8849. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Kingsville Crime Stoppers at (361) 592-INFO (4636).
