Arturo Martinez-Sanchez was left for dead after attackers viciously beat him with a hammer. His wife and 10-year-old daughter were murdered in the random home invasion.
But, citing his Christian faith, Martinez-Sanchez is choosing to forgive.
The 39-year-old says his faith has made it possible to forgive the killer, who perpetrated what local police call one of the most heinous crimes in memory.
Immediately following the vicious attack on Martinez-Sanchez, the alleged killer, Bryan Clay, 22, turned to Yadira Martinez, 38, and Karla, 10, raping both and bludgeoning them to death with the same claw hammer that left the family patriarch semi-comatose and unable to speak.
“As a believer in Christ, I know that God forgives all the sins of those who have faith in Him. In this, I am instructed to forgive first,” Martinez-Sanchez says.
“Knowing that God will forgive murderers if there is true repentance, Bryan Clay will stand in judgment before Him. It is my prayer that my wife, Yadira, and my daughter, Karla, are in heaven waiting for my sons and me to arrive to spend eternity with them. In fact, I know this is true.”
Martinez-Sanchez’s sons, Christopher (10) and Alejandro (5) sat next to their father at a press conference, comforting him as he tearfully read his statement.
Following the April 15 attack, having spent a full day in the blood-splattered house, Christopher walked to his elementary school and informed teachers and administrators of the horrible scene at his home.
Martinez-Sanchez made it clear that he expects Clay to pay here on earth for this terrible and senseless attack: “He will pay for his crimes. He will be punished for what he has done to my family. He must face justice and whatever penalty the judge hands down, including death, if that is how he is sentenced.”
Later, when asked by a reporter what he would say to Clay if he could, Martinez-Sanchez replied, “I would say, ‘I forgive you.’ If he kissed me on the cheek, I would kiss him back.”
Speaking haltingly as he struggled for words, Martinez-Sanchez concluded his appearance saying, “I love my Yadira. I love my Karla. I love my sons. We all love Jesus. Through His strength, we will survive.”
