4-year-old girl died after her mother’s cousin told her God would show them something and then held her head under water in a tub until she drowned before putting “blessing oil” on her body
Texas – In a deeply disturbing case in Texas that has captured nationwide attention, a 39-year-old Indiana woman, identified as N. Martin, has been charged after drowning a 4-year-old girl during a purported baptism attempt in a bathtub. Martin, who according to reports, was a cousin of the 4-year-old girl’s mother, faces capital murder charges after the tragic incident that took place in September 2023.
The ordeal began on the morning of September 9, 2023, when emergency services were called to a residence where they found a young girl unresponsive in a bedroom. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the initial call to authorities came after Martin discovered the child cold to the touch, with foam coming out of her mouth. This discovery was made hours after the alleged drowning occurred, following a distressing night that ended fatally for the young child. Investigations revealed a grim scene: puddles surrounded a large, dirty Jacuzzi tub, indicating a struggle or frantic activity had taken place. Martin, reportedly distressed, told officers she had bathed the child and her siblings the previous night and admitted to being in the bathtub with them. However, her recollections of the events were inconsistent; she struggled to remember details when questioned by the police.
Martin was arrested in December 2024 in Indiana and extradited to Texas, where she was formally charged with capital murder of a child under 10 years old. According to the affidavit, the situation unfolded as Martin attempted to perform baptisms on the child and her siblings, holding them underwater. This horrifying act was described by the victim’s siblings, who told authorities that Martin held their sister under the water until she stopped moving, and later, Martin lay with the unresponsive child in the bathtub, delaying the call to 911 until the following morning. According to reports, Martin told the children that “God would show them something” shortly before she drowned the 4-year-old girl.
The victim’s autopsy, released on February 8, 2024, confirmed the cause of death as drowning. Despite Martin’s claim that the drowning was unintentional, telling officers, “I killed a kid…I didn’t mean to kill this baby,” the severity of her actions led to serious legal repercussions. The delay in her arrest was attributed to the need for thorough interviews and the finalization of the autopsy report, which was crucial in confirming the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Further complicating this tragic case, the children’s mother, who was out of town at the time, recounted that she had FaceTimed with Martin and seen all three of her children in the tub, alive at that moment. She expressed concerns about Martin’s erratic behavior and her rantings about God, which had alarmed her. The surviving children’s testimonies were chilling; they spoke of how Martin put what she called “blessing oil” on the victim’s body and threatened them with eternal damnation if they disclosed the events. One sibling ominously noted that “something happened, the devil,” during their ordeal.
Currently held in jail on a $2 million bond, Martin’s next court appearance is scheduled for later this month, on March 20. The case has left the community and the nation stunned, grappling with the horror of a trusted caretaker turning into a perpetrator of such a cruel act. This tragedy has sparked broader discussions on the safety of children in the care of relatives or friends, the recognition of signs of mental instability, and the appropriate measures to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable. As the legal process unfolds, many are calling for justice for the young victim and preventative actions to protect other children from similar fates.
