A Florida man has been arrested after two months on the run in connection with the separate murders of a missing woman and a man at a homeless camp, authorities announced Tuesday.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced in a press conference that Enrique Martinez, 26, was found wandering on a sidewalk near Cooley Road and SR 540 in Winter Haven.
“He was very good at avoiding us at one point, but our best lieutenants and detectives never gave up,” Judd said.
The search for Martinez began after a man identified as Edir Rodriguez was murdered at a homeless camp on November 8, 2023. The investigation doubled when Martinez was also suspected of killing 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez, who was reported missing on November 8, 2023. on January 14, but is believed to have gone missing several days earlier.
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Enrique Martinez, 26, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in Polk County, Florida. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)
Judd earlier announced Monday that deputies had recovered Hernandez's body.
Sierra Hernandez, 20, was reported missing on January 14, but investigators believe she had been missing for several days. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)
The sheriff said detectives were shocked to find the wanted man “casually walking” on the sidewalk just north of Eagle Lake. Martinez then ran into the woods and fled.
Winter Haven police lieutenants and officers set up a perimeter and searched Martinez with a K-9, Judd said. Martinez eventually emerged from the wooded area and surrendered peacefully.
Judd said Martinez initially tried to run away from the deputies but eventually surrendered peacefully. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)
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Judd said he spied on the suspect, who was sitting in the back seat of the patrol car.
“I looked at him and he said, 'Hey, Sheriff. How are you doing?' I said, 'Okay, are you tired?' He says, “I gave up on myself.” Well, when you're surrounded by 100 sheriff's deputies with guns, that's a pretty easy choice,” the sheriff said.
Judd said Martinez has a violent criminal history that includes 13 felony arrests, 15 misdemeanor arrests, and served five years in prison for stabbing his ex-girlfriend in the face.
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Judd said the investigation into Hernandez's death is still ongoing and there may be other suspects.
