Visalia man found guilty of trying to kill ex-girlfriend, their 2 children, woman's boyfriend
A Tulare County jury found a 37-year-old man guilty of trying to kill four people, including his two children.
Mark Martin was convicted of four counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, one count of arson, and one count of first-degree residential burglary.
In February 2021, Martin broke into the garage of his ex-girlfriend. Martin and the woman share two children, according to prosecutors. He then started a fire near the water heater, which quickly spread to two cars in the garage.
Martin's ex-girlfriend, their two children and the woman's boyfriend were inside the Visalia home. Everyone was able to evacuate without being injured in the fire.
Initially believed to be a water heater failure, law enforcement discovered that the fire was intentionally set.
Video from neighbors captured a man on a BMX bicycle riding to and from home around the time of the fire, investigators said. The suspect was dressed in a hoodie, beanie, mask and gloves. Martin was known to wear the same outfit and rode a BMX bicycle, prosecutors said.
Investigators uncovered more evidence linking Martin to the house fire.
The day after the fire, Martin made a Snapchat post directed at his ex-girlfriend about the "seriousness of his intentions and the fear that he hoped the fire instilled in her." Martin also commented on the Visalia Stringer Facebook post about the incident.
In the post, Martin asked how a water heater could cause so much damage.
He was arrested Feb. 9.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the fire wasn't the first time Martin had threaten his ex-girlfriend.
Prosecutors said Martin displayed a "pattern of harassment and threats."
These threats included voicemails to his ex-girlfriend wishing she would “die a slow death” and “burn to death.” A note was left on her car threatening her new boyfriend to end their relationship.
During his trial, it also came out that Martin talked about setting the fire less than an hour after the incident.
Martin has multiple felony convictions for receiving stolen property, carrying a loaded firearm, burglary, and vandalism. Sentencing is scheduled for October, where he faces life in prison.
Sheyanne Romero is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network and Visalia Times-Delta.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Visalia man found guilty of trying to kill ex in house fire
