Northern California authorities probe 2014 death of murder victim’s 2-year-old

The toddler died in Children’s Hospital in Modesto in October, according to the death certificate for Christopher Ripley.

Modesto police have not said the possible motive or cause of death in the homicides.

Martinez is allegedly responsible for the horrific scene uncovered by Modesto officers Saturday afternoon. Their bodies were found at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday after police received a call asking for a “security check” of the home.

A 30-year-old man, Martin Martinez, was arrested in the killings Sunday south of San Francisco.

Family and friends identified one of the victims as Dr. Amanda Crews, who worked as a physician in Turlock and Modesto. All the victims are related, and the childrens ages range from 6 months to 6 years old, Graves said.

For Tim Ripley, Crews’ ex-husband and father to Christopher and Elizabeth, his entire family has been lost, purportedly at the hands of Martinez. A group of law enforcement officials could be seen huddled together and praying in front of the house shortly after the discovery of the bodies.

Police also released a picture and license plate number of a red Lincoln Navigator he was known to drive, police said.

About 1 a.m., according to neighbors, police were on the street searching backyards – even though Martinez had already been arrested.

In San Jose, police spokesman Albert Morales said officers found the large, luxury SUV on Lucerne Way, near Reid-Hillview Airport on the East Side. San Jose police got a tip he was in the area visiting family.

Both neighbors and public records show that the home was once owned by Martinez’s elderly relatives, and was passed on to other relatives after their deaths in the past few years. Officers arrested him without incident, Morales said.

Friends and family brought flowers and candles to the home where two women, including a well-respected doctor, and three children were killed.