A 29-year-old Brighton man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him today of strangling his pregnant girlfriend last November.
Nicky Allen Martinez was found guilty of first-degree murder this afternoon by an Adams County jury. District Court Judge Thomas Ensor immediately sentenced him to life without parole, and he was taken away.
“The jury obviously understood the gravity of this case,” said Adams County District Attorney Don Quick. “This was a senseless act of domestic violence. Not only did the family lose a daughter but also a grandchild.”
Brighton police responded to a call on Nov. 19 about a missing person. Tanya Ealey, 33, had not been seen in two days, even though she was pregnant.
Police learned later that Martinez had strangled her with his hands then pushed her body under the bed where she remained for several days until police found her.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
