A Colorado man is under arrest, accused of fatally assaulting his 4-year-old Godson during a so-called “boot-camp” intended to alter the child’s behavior.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office spokesperson confirmed to Oxygen that 24-year-old Alexander Martinez-Armstrong is being charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death, either knowingly or recklessly.
Alexander Martinez-Armstrong Arrested After Boy Suffered Bruises “From Head to Toe”
Authorities responded to a distress call at Martinez-Armstrong’s apartment around 10 p.m. on May 16. The call concerned “a young child who was unconscious and not breathing,” as per a statement from the Aurora Police Department.
“Upon arrival, officers found the boy with severe injuries,” the police reported. “He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Medical responders noted that the child was covered in bruises “from head to toe,” including noticeable bruises on his face, some of which were in different stages of healing, according to the arrest affidavit shared with Oxygen.
During their investigation, officers found a belt with a broken prong placed on a table next to some schoolwork, which they suspect might have been used in the assault.
“Some of the bruising marks had different shapes,” police wrote, “appearing to be elongated marks, which could be from objects like whips or belts.”
Alexander Martinez-Armstrong Accused of Running “Boot-Camp” For Child
The boy’s mother described Martinez-Armstrong as being “like a brother” to her and told investigators that her son had been sent to a “boot-camp” at his home, per the affidavit, because she was hoping the 24-year-old could “correct” her son’s behavioral issues, according to the affidavit.
She explained that the child had been “repeatedly lying to her, sneaking into her purse, not listening to her and occasionally sneaking candy,” according to the court document.
Martinez-Armstrong—who was described as being the boy’s “godfather”—allegedly admitted to hitting the boy during his days-long stay, per the affidavit, and said he had been “on punishment for being bad, disruptive, and not listening.”
He allegedly added that the child’s mother had given him “full permission” to use the same methods she used at home, including belt whippings, spankings, wall sits, push ups and planks.
Martinez-Armstrong allegedly went on to explain, per the affidavit, that the child bruised his face and forearms after he collapsed while doing pushups and also suffered bruising on his buttocks from being whipped with a belt.
Martinez-Armstrong told one officer that the child—who was not identified—“would cry during the whippings and say, ‘ow,’” according to the court records. He told officers that he’d respond by telling the boy, “I know it stings, I know, get up…” and asking if he was going to be “good.”
He also allegedly admitted to spanking the child with an open palm when he “messed up” his schoolwork and forcing him to do wall sits.
Two days before his death, Martinez-Armstrong allegedly told officers he began to use the belt to discipline him as well, adding that he’d received the “most discipline” on the day of his death because he “messed up” seven times and got 21 belt strikes as a result, per the affidavit.
The last time he allegedly whipped the child was right before dinner at about 9:30 p.m. and said the child was given food, only ate one bite and then put his head on the table and appeared to be falling asleep, per the court records. Martinez-Armstrong walked him to the couch where he fell asleep with a blanket. When he came in to check on the boy about 20 minutes later, he told investigators found him unresponsive and his girlfriend called 911, authorities said.
Martinez-Armstrong’s girlfriend also allegedly witnessed Martinez-Armstrong whip the boy with a belt but thought the child was “fine” after dinner that night, according to the court records.
While speaking with the child’s mother, she allegedly admitted to “routinely” punishing her son by having him do wall sits, planks, pushups, running and hitting him with a belt or an open hand, per the affidavit. She also allegedly told investigators that she “told other men in her life that it is okay to ‘whip his ass’” when disciplining him and had wanted a father-figure in his life.
She added, per the court document, that she never believed Martinez-Armstrong would “hurt” the boy.
Martinez-Armstrong is currently being held at the Arapahoe County Jail. Office of the 18th Judicial District Attorney Director of Communications Eric Ross told Oxygen his next scheduled court appearance is July 17.
It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney. Oxygen reached out to the public defender’s office, but did not receive an immediate reply.
