Charges filed in slaying of Columbus woman in Minnesota

The wife of a Faribault man accused of killing a woman from Ohio believes there’s more to the story than what police have made public.

Martinez had been missing since July 30, and her body was found on Friday in a wooded area near Shager Park, west of Faribault.

While on routine patrol at 11:45 p.m. on August 3, a Rice County sheriff’s deputy located Martinez’s vehicle at Shager Park with the keys in the ignition and the front and rear driver’s side windows down.

Martinez and Nisbit met at a local motel and arranged to meet again the following morning. According to the complaint, they walked for about 15-20 minutes until they reached a wooded area Nisbit had selected because there was water available if he needed to wash anything off.

According to the complaint, he brought with him a backpack that contained parachute cord and a knife with a 10-inch blade. While standing behind her, he choked her until she passed out and then slashed her throat, the complaint states.

He then dragged her body to a culvert by a nearby stream, and covered some of the body with dirt. He then learned that the auto was associated with Martinez, who was reported missing from Ohio.

Gina said her husband told her he tried to talk Martinez out of taking her own life, and that she had a plan of how she wanted Nisbit to kill her, and he eventually crumbled.

The night after they met, they drove separately to Shager Park, where they left their cars. The complaint says glasses similar to those Nisbit’s family says he lost were also found in the area.

Jason Nisbit, 39, is facing a charge of second degree homicide with intent in the death of 26-year-old Chelsea Martinez. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Bail was set at $1 million during Nisbit’s initial court appearance Monday.