Olt seeks help with murder case

Olt seeks help with murder case

August 16, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

District Attorney Joe Olt has decided to call in the cavalry in the Fred Martinez Jr. murder case.

This week, seasoned prosecutor and First Assistant State Attorney General Paul Wolff of Denver came on board to lend Olt’s office a hand, but it is still unclear to what extent he will be involved in the case.

"It’s still being worked out," Wolff said of the arrangements. "Joe is obviously the district attorney that’s in charge of the case. He’s just asked for assistance and we’re going to appear and do what we can to help him."

Olt said Wolff came to Cortez Monday to discuss the case. Additionally, Kelly Eliassen, an investigator from the attorney general’s office in Denver, has teamed up with local law enforcement on the high-profile case.

"They (the attorney general’s office) have all of the resources — we have none," Olt said. "I’ve asked for help and they’re giving it to us. It’s helping us an awful lot."

Martinez, 16, who was openly gay or transgendered, died on June 16. His badly decomposed body was found south of Cortez on June 21 and a Farmington man has been arrested in connection with his murder.

Suspect Shaun Murphy, 18, is being held on $500,000 bail in Montezuma County Jail on first- and second-degree murder charges. His arrest followed several tips to police, including one that Murphy had allegedly bragged about beating up a homosexual.

The case has captured state and national attention, due in part to the possibility that Martinez was the victim of a hate crime. Anti-bias groups have taken special notice of Martinez’s brutal murder and have turned it into a platform for seeking tolerance and respect. Last week vigils were held in towns across the country, from Washington to Virginia, in Martinez’s memory.

Now thrust into the spotlight only eight months after taking office, and without any experience in trying a homicide, Olt has acknowledged the magnitude of the case.

"I promised people if I ever got into a big case and I felt I wanted at least some backup, then I would ask for it," Olt said, referring to his election pledge. "And that’s what I’ve done."

Wolff has extensive experience with criminal prosecution, as he has been with the attorney generals office since 1994 and worked for the Denver district attorney’s office for eight years.

Eliassen, who has also been with the attorney general’s office since the early ’90s, brings more than 20 years of investigative experience to the case.

Wolff said the AG’s office, when asked, often extends its services free of charge to rural district attorneys who have limited resources.

"We may help with just advice; we may help with legal briefs or support; or we may appear with the district attorney," Wolff said. "We don’t have any jurisdiction over the case — we only appear as assistants."

Wolff said he believes Olt’s office is prepared to try the case, but added it can’t hurt to have a veteran sitting second-seat through the decision process.

"I think Joe is capable of handling the case by himself with an assistant down there, but it helps to have some experience. There’s obviously a comfort factor there when you have someone to assist you if anything comes up that you’re not familiar with.

"It’s the same for me. I don’t know the local area down there very well, so I will be relying on Joe for the local issues."