Colorado Man Beheaded Woman and Walked Round with Severed Hand in Pocket for 2 Days
A Colorado man has been convicted of murder after being found in possession of a severed hand belonging to his victim at the time of his arrest.
Solomon Martinez, 27, was found guilty of murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with human remains in connection to the killing and beheading of Renee Portillos, 47. His arrest in January 2024 followed the discovery of Portillos’ dismembered body in a creek. During his apprehension, law enforcement found her severed hand in a plastic bag inside his pocket. Officers also observed visible cuts on his hands during questioning.
Martinez, a former security guard, told police that he had picked up Portillos for a sexual encounter on January 8, 2024, but claimed he refused to pay and dropped her off in the early hours of the morning. However, evidence presented during the trial contradicted his statements.
During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors played recorded jailhouse phone calls between Martinez and his mother, in which he admitted to killing Portillos. Additionally, court documents revealed that Martinez had asked his roommate to borrow tools and dig a 10-foot-deep hole, offering to forgive a $1,000 debt in exchange for assistance.
Despite pleading not guilty and claiming that Portillos had shot herself with his gun, the prosecution presented evidence from his phone, location data, and the autopsy report, all of which pointed to his guilt.
Following the guilty verdict, Martinez was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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