INSIDE:
COMMUNITY C O M M U N I TP.27| Y P .AROUND 2 3 | B UAFS P.31 I N E S| OPINION S P . 2 7 |P.34| O P BUSINESS I N I O N PP.37 . 3 1 |REAL | S P ESTATE O R T S P.RE1| P . 3 4 GETOUT | G E T OP.41 U T | PSPORTS . 3 8 | P.45| C L A SCLASSIFIED S I F I E D P P.47 .40
www.ahwatukee.com
CONTEMPT OR COMPLIANCE
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
@AhwatukeeFN |
@AhwatukeeFN
17 years after boy’s death, no resolution in sight BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
.3
P
ROAD RUNNER
. 18
P
RENAISSANCE RESIDENT
S
eventeen years and one month ago today, paramedics arrived at an Ahwatukee home and found the lifeless body of 5-year-old Joshua Eberle-Martinson in a bunk bed in a spare bedroom. In the master bedroom on that Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, they found his father, Jeffrey R. Martinson, partially unconscious with a garbage bag over his head, his wrists bearing cuts. Following a four-hour interrogation, Phoenix detectives arrested Martinson, then 43, on homicide in the death of a boy who only five weeks earlier had celebrated his birthday. That arrest started a 17-year legal battle that has cost Maricopa County taxpayers more than $5.3 million just on Martinson’s legal defense. And to this day, Martinson’s guilt or innocence in the death of his son as a result of an overdose of a muscle relaxer has yet to be de-
Jeffrey R. Martinson is shown during his 2011 trial on charges he killed his son Joshua Eberle-Martinson, by giving him an overdose of a muscle relaxer in Martinson's Ahwatukee home in 2004. Joshua's photo was taken a day or two before he died. (AFN file photos) termined. Martinson was convicted of first degree murder in November 2011 by a jury that a month later could not unanimously agree to a pros-
ecution request for a death sentence. Three months later, Superior Court Judge
sures Republicans had tacked onto the state budget bill with no hearings in the waning days of the session. The ruling means that – at least as of the Ahwatukee Foothills News’ print deadline of Monday afternoon – Kyrene and Tempe Union school districts can continue their mask mandates. “In light of today’s ruling, Kyrene School District will continue its current mitigation strategies, as outlined in the leveled mitigation plan, which includes a requirement for face coverings indoors, when community transmission is ‘substantial’ or ‘high,’” Kyrene spokeswoman Erin Helm said. “If this case
advances through the courts, the District will be following closely. Kyrene remains committed to following all state and federal laws and orders as we navigate the constantly evolving landscape of this global pandemic.” Tempe Union officials were conferring with the district’s lawyer – who also is Kyrene’s counsel. While Tempe Union had no official statement by the AFN’s deadline, it was likely it would adopt a position similar to Kyrene’s While it is likely the state will appeal the ruling, there was no immediate reaction Monday from the Ducey administration or
see MARTINSON page 12
Ruling likely to extend mask mandates here
. 23
P
ZOMBIE INVASION
. 38
P
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor and HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
O
ne of the most polarizing issues in Tempe Union, Kyrene and most other school districts likely won’t be going away any time soon after a judge ruled the ban on mask mandates and a slew of other measures passed by Republican legislators unconstitutional. In a blistering opinion Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper voided the ban on mask and vaccine mandates along with a number of other mea-
Bring the Outdoors In with our Moving Glass Wall Systems
4454 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix • 602-508-0800 • liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm • Fri 8:30-4pm • Sat 9-2pm • ROC#179513
Up to
1500 OFF
$
Call for deta
ils!
see MASKS page 17