After discovering money missing from his wallet, a grandfather beat his 12-year-old grandson to death with a sledgehammer last weekend.
Andrez Martina, 54, is charged with five counts, including first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon. A judge set Martina’s bail at $750,000 during a court appearance on Thursday.
“The facts are detailed pretty clearly in the complaint,” said assistant district attorney Mallory R. Davis.
According to the criminal complaint, Martina awoke around 3 a.m. and noticed that his wallet was open and money was missing. His grandson, Andre, denied taking the money, even turning out his pockets to show they were empty.
Martina proceeded to beat the boy for more than five hours with a sledgehammer, a cane, and other objects. Andre’s 8-year-old brother also suffered injuries.
Andre was taken to a Milwaukee hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. The boy’s cause of death is listed as multiple blunt force injuries to the head.
Not only was the attack witnessed by Andre’s 8-year-old brother, but also his disabled great-grandmother. In addition to the witnesses, Martina confessed to police that he knew what he was doing when he beat his grandson, according to CBS 58.
Martina is scheduled to appear again in court on September 13.
