A State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) investigation helped lead to a lifetime prison sentence for a Panhandle man who set a house fire to cover up the murder of a 4-year-old girl.
Humberto Martinez pleaded guilty to capital murder on March 4 for strangling 4-year-old Hope Raley. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Perryton Fire Department in Ochiltree County was putting out the house fire in 2022 when they found Raley. A medical exam confirmed that she died from strangulation before the fire was set.
The fire department found Martinez hiding in a crawl space under the house. He was the last person seen with Raley.
Perryton Police Department asked the SFMO to conduct an origin and cause investigation into the fire. SFMO determined that Martinez intentionally started the fire with a lighter and combustibles to cover the crime.
“Investigations like this demonstrate the critical role the SFMO plays in uncovering the facts behind suspicious fires,” said State Fire Marshal Debra Knight. “Our team’s work helped reveal the truth in a complex and tragic case, bringing justice and closure to the victim’s family.”
Martinez confessed to the Texas Ranger after he was released from the hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation.
“SFMO’s investigation was critical in the discovery that this matter was more complex than a simple house fire,” said Ochiltree County Attorney Jose N. Meraz.
The SFMO is a division of the Texas Department of Insurance. Report suspected arson to the SFMO at 800-578-4677.