I don't know what's going on. Chill. What's with this thing? And >> you see this liature marks? >> Yeah. >> I just coming from my from my job. I don't know what's going on. >> This is the moment cops find 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton dead. >> Where was she hanged from? >> Um I'm not certain. I believe it was probably up there. But uh I think I think I don't I don't know if it was here or over there because when I got here she wasn't hanging. And >> but what they don't know yet is that Kayla had already reported her killer and unknowingly solved her own murder. Did >> Did he show you this voice message? >> He did. >> Okay. It's just like screaming and I don't know if it's screaming or >> It sounds like she's choking. >> Yeah. >> No. And there's a person talking at the end of it. Just before 5:15 p.m. on July 27th, 2022, officers were called to the unit block of East Inca Street for a person reportedly in cardiac arrest. At first glance, it sounded like a medical call, but within minutes, it would become clear this was something far darker. Where where she at? She uh take a right. >> The humbling is right here. I don't know what's going to with this thing. And >> you see this liature marks? >> Yeah. So >> I just coming from my from my job. I don't know what's going on. >> I'm going to probably record for this. Okay. >> She call me. Hey 21 party for >> this is Hector Ortiz, the boyfriend of the victim. And almost immediately you can see him trying very hard to emphasize that he wasn't involved. Which to be fair, when someone discovers something horrific, panic and confusion are expected. >> Who's this? >> It's her. She called me. But I don't know. I don't know. >> What time did she What time she call >> Hang on. Hang on to that one second. >> What time did she call you? >> 11 >> 11 a.m. >> That's correct. P4 >> 150 to 132. Are you in route? >> Excuse me. >> 104. She's priority for >> Yeah. No. Spanish becomes a major factor in this case and the barrier between languages will make communication slower, more complicated, and occasionally more confusing for everyone involved. >> So, there's like there's marks all over her neck, >> but she wasn't like I guess hanging when they found her. So, I'm not really sure. >> Sorry, guys. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Do you need anything? >> Okay, that's I'm coming out. Do you want a sheet or anything? Are you good? >> I think we want to keep her uncovered. >> Uncovered? Yeah. Seriously. >> Okay. >> I'm going to let me hand bags out to you. >> That's fine. >> Stay right there, though. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm here. >> Um and I will need to get information. I don't have any I don't have the >> Okay, I'll take care of all that. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'll get all that. Um >> can you find me a driver's license or something because um with having language barrier, it's just easier for me to be able to get that information from that. >> Everybody out there. >> Yeah. Okay. >> This is a very public scene. People nearby have already seen what happened to the victim, 20-year-old Kayla Marie Hamilton. Kayla was autistic, which makes the tragedy even more difficult for the community trying to understand how something like this could happen in a shared apartment in broad daylight. >> Ask them if he has she has any kind of mail or driver's license information. >> I'll do not >> What's her relationship? speak >> no English little bit English change the outcome. Okay. >> Does he speak English? >> We've already >> I'm sorry to break it to you. >> Okay. >> Hey, do you have do you have an ID? >> No. >> I'm I'm sorry, buddy. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Man, do you have a Spanish speaker? >> Not on right now. >> I don't think you fully understand. >> Right now, the entire investigation hinges on understanding the timeline of events that led to this moment. For detectives, everything starts with the same question. What exactly happened here? And who knows the answer? If you're finding this case interesting so far, subscribing helps support the channel and it makes sure you don't miss future stories. Now, let's pick it back up. >> What What is his name on the right? >> Him? >> Yeah, >> he's my dad. >> That's your dad? >> Yeah, it's my dad. What's his name? Hector. >> Hector. >> Hector, too. Yeah. >> What's his last name? >> Uh, Ortiz. It's same like Oh, same. Same. >> Yeah. I'm his son. >> I got you. Do you know his date of birth? >> No. September 20 25 September 25th. >> September 25th. >> I got I got in my >> Yeah. >> You said 28. >> Huh? >> September 28. >> 25. >> 25. >> You can do nothing. I didn't really. >> And then what's his uh What year? >> Huh? >> What year was he born? >> 76. >> 76. And then the uh is that your sister? >> It's my my my girlfriend. My my fiance. >> Your fiance? What's what's her name? >> Yeah. >> Kayla uh >> K A Y L A. >> Yeah. >> Kayla Marie Hamilton. >> What's her last name? >> Hamilton. >> Hamilton. >> Yeah. >> H A M I L T O N. >> Yes. >> Do you know her birthday? >> Um she's 20 24. >> She's 24. >> Hold on. July 24. July. What's in what year? >> Uh 2002 >> 2002. Can you run up the house for me? >> Last name Hamilton, first name Kayla, middle name Marie, favorite 724, 2002. Like anything like any kind of heart problems, any kind of breathing problems? Uh Jacob al to some PTSD or something like this. >> She has PTSD. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But she's normally >> Okay. So, it makes a question. Does she take medication for her PTSD? >> No. >> Okay. Does she use drugs? >> No. >> It's just a question I have to ask. >> Two year two years. We be together for 2 years. She We don't do nothing. Drugs. Alcohol. Negative and nothing to her. >> No. No reason for her to want to use. >> Okay. >> No. Somebody come and kill her. Really? I don't know. >> At this early stage, the suspicion here isn't based on hard evidence yet. It's mostly observational. The first person officers naturally look toward is the boyfriend, and Hector Ortiz's reaction stands out. He doesn't appear panicked, devastated, or overwhelmed in the way people might expect after discovering their partner dead. That alone doesn't prove anything, but it does give investigators something to think about. >> There's another guy right here. I think I be like a sufficient to him. I don't know what's going on. >> And this is where she lives. This is her address. >> Yes, it's my Uhhuh. Yeah. It's our room. >> That's your house. >> Room. >> Room. >> We rent a room. >> Who live? Okay. So, you rent a room here? >> Mhm. >> Okay. But your driver's license and her driver's license say three Inca. Correct. >> Does Does Kayla have an ID? A state ID? >> Yes, >> she has a state ID. >> I don't want to talk about it right now. I got you. >> Come on. >> You can't do nothing. >> No, there's nothing to do. She's been down for too long. >> Do you listen? I listen to me. I don't speak Spanish. So, I need you to communicate with me in English, okay? And I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but I don't speak Spanish. So, I can't communicate to you in Spanish. Only English. >> Can you Can you look at me while I explain things to you? Do you understand? >> Okay. We went we went in and if there was anything that we could do to bring her back, we would have. But listen to me. >> She's been gone too long. >> Out of Virginia. >> Okay. So this she's been gone too long. >> All right. >> I'm sorry. >> Do Do you understand what I'm saying? >> Okay. I just want you to understand. Do you have any questions for us? I can be of any help to you. Adambert. >> Um, that's all I have for you. That's all that you can give us right now, but that's translator. >> Okay. >> No, he can speak English. >> Oh, you speak English? >> Oh, yeah. >> So, you understand? >> Okay. So, >> I don't know how long she's been down. 132 not Virginia 24 hours. >> So there's nothing we could have done. >> Another troubling realization quickly emerges. Kayla has been dead for quite some time which means the events that led to this tragedy happened long before police ever arrived. And right now there's no one at the scene who can clearly explain what took place. We we we living now in the another room. >> Is this your casa? >> No. No, you don't live. We rent >> uh rent. >> I'm living I pay for for the room. >> You pay for the room? >> Yeah, the room over there. >> Oh, you where do you live? >> In the in the big room here. >> Oh, but you do live here. >> Yeah, I live in here. >> Okay. Okay, >> Jose. Okay. And then um >> how do I say this? He did the translate for you. Yeah, I was going to say get that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. He'll be your best He'll be your best transl. >> But did he tell you that her first account? >> Were they? No, he didn't. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. My son told me that >> when she found when he found her, her hands were bound. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But he'll be he'll be be able to translate for you. And he speaks really good English to be able to translate. Your son translate for them. >> Okay. Uh uh this guy is coming now. They they working too. My son too coming now. They working. Nobody here. So I said the the the door is long here. Nobody here is long. Somebody put something. You said my son. My son is coming out. >> Nobody. How good is your English? >> Got PTSD. >> The investigation immediately runs into a problem. Language and chaos. There are too many people in this house and not enough clear communication. Officers are asking questions, but the answers coming back are fragmented, misunderstood, or lost in translation. >> Okay. >> Um, you need anything else from us? >> Uh, no. I think I'm okay. >> Okay. Cuz we have another call. >> I got you. Okay. >> Uh, do you What time uh did did you guys find her? >> What time? >> Yeah. Right before you called. Either either one of you. Oh, I call now maybe 10 minutes. I call me someone coming here. Maybe >> 10 minutes. >> Maybe 15 minutes here. >> Okay. >> And what were her hands bound by? >> Huh? >> Rope. >> Yeah. You see my >> Okay. Do you do you know these two's birthdays? Date of birth. >> Birthday. What? >> Can you ask them when? >> Yeah. When they were born like birthday >> birthday GR, right? Can I give my ID? >> You have an ID? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. My passport. >> Yeah, that's fine. You don't want? >> Yeah. >> With so many people connected to this house, technically anything could have happened here. But right now, none of them seem able to explain what happened to Kayla. Ironically, the only person who can tell investigators what happened is Kayla herself. Kayla may have left investigators one final clue in the form of a voicemail she sent shortly before her death. >> You see and right here somebody do that bro. >> Damn man. Hey, >> do you know if she had any envies? >> No. No. >> When did she Where did she work? >> Uh, you can't do nothing. You can't do anything. >> You can't touch her or anything right now. >> Can't touch her. >> Why touch her? >> We know, but >> just don't touch her anymore. Cuz the problem is when you touch things in here >> that point stays here. >> I come I come and revive her, you know, because I just coming from my job. >> I got you. >> And like I got boss. So you can ask >> I don't remember like uh four >> four >> four something like this. I don't remember. >> Okay. >> Really late. >> You were working uh like Beta Boulevard. That address that's where you were working. >> No, she working there. She working right there. Oh, that's where she works. Uhhuh. Okay. What? Oh, that. Did Did she leave a voice message? What does he get? Did Did she leave you a voice message or something? >> Yes. I I just >> What did it Is it in Spanish? >> It's nothing. She don't say nothing. Somebody got her. >> Can I hear that? You have to Did he send you this voice message? >> He did. >> Okay. It's just like screaming and I don't know if it's screaming or >> It sounds like she's choking. >> Yeah. >> No. And there's a person talking at the end of it. Okay. >> I didn't listen to the whole thing until he is start like he was trying to explain things to me. So, we never actually made it through to the end. >> Okay. >> But her phone doesn't seem to be here. >> Okay. >> So, I'm having him ping it. >> What's that? >> I'm having them ping the phone. >> Phone. Okay. >> Just in case. I don't know. Hopefully, >> I was going to say, are we going to like seize this phone or >> I don't know. Or have them >> I will >> consult G on that one. Yeah, >> I don't know if we can that voicemail. >> That's what I'm wondering. >> What investigators hear in that voicemail is deeply disturbing. Kayla is audibly being choked. The attack is happening in real time. And whoever did this didn't leave the phone behind. >> At the at the end of this voice message, did you hear like a voice at the end of the voice message talking? >> No. Somebody say like a call or something like this. Cord. Core. >> Core. >> Cord. >> Yeah. Cord. Yeah. >> You can play. >> Hold on. Let me see something. Um, do you have a Gmail? >> Yeah. >> Can you can you email this? >> Can you email this message to me? Go ahead. Can you contact the ambulance crew? See if they would be willing to do a transport. >> You look here, too. >> He's my dad. He's my dad. >> I just called him because I want to help me do something. >> What time did you get here? >> Like a 4 4:30 something like this. I don't remember because I was thinking something stupid because I thought she heard she [ __ ] on me or something like this. But I can't come home because I was working. >> All right. And you just got home >> like a 4 430 something like this. >> Yeah. >> But the investigation quickly turns toward another possibility. There was someone else living in this house and that person is nowhere to be found. >> Is he here now? Neil. >> Is he here now? >> He doesn't speak. >> I don't think so. I just saw him when I come from my job. I saw I saw him walk right there. >> Does he have a car? >> No, he walking. I don't know. I don't know about >> this situation becomes even stranger when officers realize something shocking. Nobody here can even clearly tell them the name of this other person. Now on my Patreon, watch the interrogation of a father accused of killing his baby. The detective snaps and starts hitting him on camera. See the full video at patreon.com/strangerstories plus >> somebody somebody I told you somebody knock the door I know that and she come and lock so see who it is when he saw the guy or something like this she was having time to call me you understand so she call me but I answer. So I know somebody cuz >> 11 11 something >> that was the I >> 113. >> Yeah. 11:03 or something. Yeah, I got that. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Nobody knows this guy's name? >> No. >> Nobody knows the guy's name? No, I I don't know. >> What does he look like? >> Huh? >> What does he look like? >> John like me. >> John, >> maybe >> a little bit more, but skinny >> little uh how you call a little bit like like it's still here. Maybe coming later or I don't know. >> The mystery person finally has a name. Walter Martinez, a 16-year-old who lived in the house. And at this moment, Walter is missing from the scene. >> Something like this. >> You can't find the telephone? >> Not yet. We'll find it. Not yet. >> You can't think of anybody that might want to cause her harm, >> huh? >> You can't think of anyone that might have wanted to cause her harm. Like this type of thing isn't exactly usually random. >> What do you mean? >> You can't think of anybody that might have wanted to harm her. >> She like calling people or like she >> she was really nice. She was really nice because I don't know we really different. We don't smile. We don't drunk. We don't do nothing. We just work buy a car. We just buy a car and we trying to marry this Jew. >> What company did she work for? >> I don't know. >> Cuz he showed me he showed me the address. I got the address where she was working. >> What company? >> Yeah. >> Oh, you don't know what company? >> Oh, the the the address the >> I took a picture of it. It's in the address, right? >> I have the address. Yeah. But do you know what company that is or is that just where she works? >> New job. >> New job. >> Beta Boulevard 151. There has to be a reason for something like this to happen. Crimes like this are rarely random. Nothing appears stolen from the house except for Kayla's missing phone, which suggests there may be something else investigators have yet to uncover. And that's where the medical examination will start providing answers. >> So [ __ ] weird. Is weird. Really bad. There you go. What's up? No, >> no. Basically, uh, this is the fiance of the one guy in the black hat out there. What's that? >> I don't know. And uh so I I got a voicemail on my phone which is like apparently like the last voicemail she sent to her fiance and uh basically you could hear like struggling and like I think it's like some guy speaking Spanish in the background uh at the very end of the video >> of the video. >> No, it's not a video. Sorry. Uh it's a recording. A voicemail from her >> from her to her fiance. >> How long ago was this? >> That was at 11:03 today. >> Today? >> Yeah. was off. You >> were off. We called it in. >> Um I'm think it was the fiance that called. >> Okay. >> The boy out there, but he said that her hands were bound and I think she had a cord around her neck when he came in. >> Was where was she at? Was she on the ground or was she hanging? >> I'm not sure. He might have told Corpal Davis that. Is it bad? >> Not really. >> I got here at the same time as medics and like right away they were like, "Yeah, look at her neck." And it's like, "St. I think this is the first uh like sitting one I've been to. >> What's that? >> This is the one like has been sitting for a while. It's the first time I've been to usually. >> Yeah, it's they were she's I guess 11:00 was likely time she died, I think. >> Was she like this? >> Uh her hands were tied up and her accord was around her neck apparently. But when I got here, the they were untied and the cord wasn't around her neck because the boyfriend was trying to like help her. >> And where's the cord? >> I think it's that cord. >> The extension cord. >> I assume so cuz it's the only one I see. And >> there's one on a dresser. >> And I think I think this was tied around her hands or I'm not sure cuz he tried to hand me this cord earlier. >> Sad. Yeah. Yeah. It's not the one on the dresser cuz that one's plugged into the PlayStation. >> I have no idea what was in here. >> Something about this situation is deeply unsettling. No one at the scene seems to know exactly what happened and the pieces just aren't lining up. But then investigators return to the voicemail Kayla left. And this time they notice something chilling. Right at the end of the message, there appears to be a male voice apologizing to Kayla after she had already been killed. >> But there's a pretty sketchy like voice recording that she sent him. >> Just her boyfriend. >> Yeah. At 11:03. And it's like you can hear struggling and like a little bit of screaming kind of. And then you hear um some guys speaking Spanish in the background. >> So >> he doesn't he doesn't know anything. You speak English? >> The fiance does, but the rest of them don't. >> Someone call it. >> Yeah. Her phone's also missing. So, >> you calling it? I'm pretty sure. >> They actually tried to get a ping on it. So, >> but yeah, we tried to call it too. Maybe I shouldn't have been stepping on the floor. You remember when you do like footprints and stuff? >> Yeah. I mean, yeah, at this point. Yeah. Yeah. We've all stepped on the floor and >> I ain't touching them though. >> Yeah. >> And there's thing is there's one more guy that lives here >> and they don't really know him cuz I think he like just moved in >> and yeah, he's not here right now. dispatch one. >> Let me just take a look. >> Can you do your do me a favor? Shine your flashlight real quick around the neck. All right. Where was she hanged from? >> Um, I'm not certain. I believe it was probably up there, but uh I think I think I don't I don't know if it was here or over there because when I got here, she wasn't hanging. And I think Corporal Davis might know that answer. >> I don't like that look at her. What was she hanged with? Uncertain if it was this cord or I think this cord wrapped around her hands possibly, but I don't know. That's the only cord I see that would work. >> We put him in a uh in a car or something cuz he's eventually going back >> to the station. >> Who else when you guys came besides him, who else was here? These two >> and his dad. This guy's dad. His dad. >> Everybody. >> Everybody's here. >> Yeah. >> All right. You need him in the car. We'll hang on one second. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh, what's your name? >> Hector. I >> And you're the fiance? >> Yeah. >> And how are you? Or are you related to the lady inside? Mom. >> No, he coming. He coming because I call him. I call him. >> Okay. Is he just uh >> He's my dad. >> He's your dad? >> Yeah. >> So I don't know where. >> Does she live here? >> She live with me. >> And you live here? >> Yeah. In that room. >> You could just text. >> Anybody else live here? >> Yeah. Text another guy. Right. >> Hey, Corpal, just make sure nobody goes anywhere. Triple. >> They said there's one more guy that's not here. >> There's There's one more guy that lives here that supposedly lives in this room, but he's not here. >> Suspicion is starting to build, but investigators are careful not to lock onto one theory too quickly. Walter Martinez is missing from the scene, which certainly raises questions, but at this stage, none of the other people in the house can be ruled out either. While officers sort through these possibilities, the medical examiner begins examining the scene. >> So, just FYI, come back to the train track. Some might have followed the train track down single So, we're going another one. See if it's moving. >> Okay. >> I'm going to have a check track. If they don't, then we'll have to go over there. Check. >> Oh, it was on APG property. >> According to how accurate >> there's an 11,000 accuracy, it could be likehere near. >> Yeah. All right. At this point, officers receive an important update. Kayla's missing phone has been found, but not inside the house. It was discovered on nearby train tracks. >> Hey, you found her phone. >> We didn't find it yet. We're still >> I want to ask you something. You found her phone. >> You can you can uh how do you call? You can how can you can see the >> camera? I don't know about the capabilities of that, but uh the other guys here are detectives, so that's kind of their thing. The detectives handle that stuff. So, I don't >> But but I'm telling you, like they're absolutely going to try. They're going to try to do their best. Okay. >> I can get my phone back. um >> talk to her mom and yeah, >> we have to draw that plan. >> It's going to be uh one of those two guys that gives you that answer. The guy with the hat. >> They're the detectives, so they're the ones taking the phone to look at it. >> Yeah. I I'm not really sure. >> I I She She shared her location with me. Uh if it was right here, this part. >> Yeah, that was like at 11:00. >> No. >> When was that? >> Around 4:00. Oh, around 4. She >> around 4. Something like this. >> Shared the location. >> No, no, she didn't share. She shared a long time ago. But you saw the phone here around 4. >> Yeah. No. So, she shared her location a long time ago. A long time. >> Yeah. And you get to keep it. >> Yeah. You can see where she is. >> Yes. That's what I mean. And you saw around when you looked around four, you saw the phone around here, right? >> Is that what you're saying? Yeah, that's what you're saying. Okay, I got you. Let me off. >> While investigators continue piecing together what happened, there is another person whose life has already been shattered by this news. Kayla's mother, Tammy Nobles. She is now faced with a nightmare no parent should ever experience. Meanwhile, officers at the scene learn a new piece of information. He say when you see the work that the back door open the back door another side is little open the door because when he come the door is little open >> I think I think it may be somebody that I know you open about the house to the door. The room, you know, the laundry. >> Oh, I see what you mean. >> I guess the laundry room has a door on the back side of the house. >> Okay. So, that's what they're saying. That door was open. >> Yeah. When she come a little open. >> Okay. >> Then something unexpected happens. Officers are informed that someone matching the description of the missing person has been located around the corner. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Possible suspect right over there. Where? >> Uh like right around the corner. Jesus Christ. What? >> Yeah, I think it's the uh it might be the roommate or something that they found. I don't know. You hear it? >> H >> Can you hear it? >> Oh, yeah. A little bit there. All they have somebody to danger. >> Body cameras on there. >> Uh, no. They're they're actually uh so they just found a a potential suspect right down the street. >> So uh that's where all the detectives went right now. >> Okay. I'm going to catch up with >> Yeah, I was going to say >> officers move quickly to verify the information. One officer approaches the individual and soon confirms it. The suspect is 16-year-old Walter Martinez and he is taken into custody. Uh, you said good. Transfer road to my truck. >> Just take him over. Back over to the truck. >> He's going back to your truck. >> Back to my truck. >> You guys already You guys run them already? >> I don't have his name is added to the CAD. >> Um, but he had like an employment ID. So, if you could work on that, getting a positive ID on him when you get there, that would be awesome. >> Walter Martinez. That's it. Comment Walter Martinez. It was It was added to the cat. >> Okay. Date of birth 8 1206. >> That's all. >> Walter Martinez is now in custody and brought into an interrogation room where detectives are hoping the questions they ask will finally begin to explain what happened inside that house. All right. where document >> could you uh just basically explain to him what this is >> and then have him just uh write his name out here just like we normally do and have him read each line and initial and then if he has any questions explain to him that he say he has same rights as everyone else he does not have to talk to us if he doesn't want to say is the west foreign. Okay. Before any questioning begins, an officer reads Walter his rights. Because of the language barrier, another officer in the room will be responsible for translating the conversation. >> All right. My name is Detective Schoall. I'm a detective with the Aberdine Police Department. uh our discussion or us talking today is going to be audio and visually recorded on the two cameras up there and this this little camera right here. Okay. Okay. Okay. at any time during our conversation you don't feel comfortable speaking with me any further or you'd like to take a break, use the restroom, um or stop, just uh let uh let my partner over here know. Okay. Okay. Do you do you have any idea why why we brought you here to the police station today? >> Uh he said no. He was surprised when he saw us. How how long have you been in the United States? 3 to four months. >> And do you remember where you came into the United States? last thing. So, I only got Texas. >> Did you have family up here in Maryland or how how did you get here to Aberdine? >> Maryland. >> Okay. So, in Ferick. >> Okay. He has family here in Frederick. Where's your family in in Aberdine? >> Okay. Um, okay. He he um Kevin. >> So, his brother Kevin lives in the um the same trailer park, but leaves he lives over by um so you're coming in the trailer park on the right hand side. Um the east side the No, the west the west side. Yeah, the west side. >> How old's your brother, Kevin? >> When's he 21? Kevin, >> uh he thinks he's uh 26. Does your brother live at the house where where uh you and I met earlier today out front of there? >> No. >> No. >> Further down or you know the numbers? >> He doesn't know the numbers. I asked him earlier. Um yeah, he the only he could tell me was his brother. He grabs a blue car. At this point, investigators know almost nothing about Walter. There are no real records, no background, no clear timeline. So, detectives begin asking basic questions to fill in the gaps. And what they learn will eventually make this case explode in the public eye. Walter had been smuggled into the United States from El Salvador by a coyote just 4 months before this incident. And what uh what brought him to that house? How did he find that that room? Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Salvador second. Okay. So, his um his stepbrother knows the uh the landlord, the the lady that owns the property, and that's how he was um he you know, he he lives there. That's why he lives there. >> Okay. Is there any reason he's not living with his brother? >> Um Okay. No. >> Okay. He says he doesn't uh feel comfortable living with his brother. And on top of that, uh the um the landlord said that uh he can't he can't bring another person into the trailer that he that his brother's currently living in. >> Okay. How much does the landlord charge you to to rent a room there? Because Walter's story is the only source of information right now, detectives need details about his relatives so they can begin verifying everything he claims. >> And how does he get along with his roommates? No problems. No problems. Um they he gets along with him just fine. Um he said, as a matter of fact, they gave me a fan because I didn't have a fan in the room. Who gave him the fan? Have you ever gone into any of your roommates uh bedrooms at any time? Uh or have they ever invited you into their rooms? No. No. >> Yeah. He said uh he's never been into the room without their permission or they he's never been invited. The only time that he's had contact with them, he'll knock on a door to take their clothes out of the uh the dryer so he can wash his clothes. The washer and dryer so he can wash his clothes. >> So he's never physically been inside any other roommates bedrooms. >> Okay. So yeah. No inside. Never. Never. Oh, just by the door. That's it. >> At this point, investigators are facing two possibilities. Either Walter is lying, or there's another killer still out there. Walter begins mentioning someone named Kik, which he explains is short for Enrique, a person who supposedly lives in the house. He is basically referring to Hector, Kaylor's boyfriend, as Kik. Think about the situation unfolding here. Walter is just 16 years old, smuggled across the border months earlier and now sitting in a homicide interrogation room. And that's only the beginning of what investigators are about to learn. Walter claims he spent the day walking in the park, saying his brother had given him errands, and that's where he went. That becomes his alibi. But investigators would later uncover something far more troubling. Walter was affiliated with a notoriously violent gang MS13. If you're into clean designs with a criminal twist, you want to check out Once Live right now on strangerlelabel.com. From heavyweight t-shirts and hoodies to tank tops and sweatshirts, it's all made for fans of mystery suspense and everything in between. Take a minute, browse over at strangerabel.com. Let's get back to the case. enemies. >> Um, yeah. So, he has a question. Um, he's wondering if he can go back to the room. He he'll be able to live in the same place. >> Yeah, probably. >> You wonder why does he ask that? >> Say again. Why does he ask that? Oh, okay. >> Oh, he's the reason he's asking because someone told him that the one of the residents had had passed away. So if if if she was in danger, he doesn't want to be in danger. Also, >> who who told him that someone passed away? Okay. So when when he was handcuffed, he was asking what was going on and somebody told him that, you know, somebody had passed away. [snorts] >> When uh he walked back from the park and he walked around 15 more minutes and he said he went home. Did he go back to did you go back to your house or where did you go? He said he went home. >> Okay. >> You may notice the detective is not answering Walter's questions. That's not accidental. In interrogations, investigators often avoid giving suspects information because the more someone talks without guidance, the more likely they are to reveal inconsistencies in their own story. How did how did you find out that there were police at your house? So when he when he arrived um he saw he saw police there. So he went over to the uh where the woman lives, the landlord, she or he went over to ask her what was going on. >> Okay. Is there a reason you didn't come over to the house to check to see what was going on since you live there? >> Okay. Because of the u the case with with immigration. Given the way Walter entered the country, his fear at this moment makes sense. For someone smuggled across the border only months earlier, the idea of authorities showing up at the door could be terrifying. Like if he's uh okay with um us taking some pictures of his uh of his hands and chest and body, face, nothing like no nudity or anything. Um, and then that would be by our crime scene guy. No problem. Yeah, he said yes. No problem. Okay. Okay. completely. Whatever Walter expected when he sat down in that chair, it certainly wasn't this because he will not be going home tonight. >> Does he mess around with drugs at all? Mhm. Mhm. He said he said he smokes um on the weekends. Okay. You never dealt drugs before? Um bend these other. >> No, no, >> no. What's he going to do once uh he gets out of here? >> [snorts] >> his brother. >> See? >> Yeah. The one that lives just on the street from him. >> How would I go about getting in contact with him if I need to speak to him? foreign. Okay. No. Um he starts okay >> um he works he starts his uh work uh too um and um yeah so plans to go back to his brother you know be with his brothers and >> anything that he thinks I should know before uh we conclude our interview >> um I'll foreign. [snorts] >> Not at the moment, but if he something comes up, he he will let he will let you know. Okay. Detectives make it clear that Walter's phone will be examined. A search warrant is already in motion. Meanwhile, investigators receive devastating confirmation from the medical examiner. Kayla had been sexly assaulted. DNA evidence recovered from her clothing would later lead directly to Walter Martinez. Eventually, justice moved forward. Walter Martinez, who was just 16 at the time of the crime, was sentenced at the age of 19 to 70 years in prison for the 2022 murder and sexual assault of Kayla Hamilton. During the plea proceedings, prosecutors revealed something even more disturbing. Authorities had intercepted a letter Martinez wrote from the Hartford County Detention Center to a pastor in El Salvador. In that letter, he claimed responsibility for four additional murders and two more sexual assaults. The case quickly gained national attention and eventually led to political action. In response, the US House of Representatives passed the Kayla Hamilton Act, legislation aimed at addressing gaps in how federal agencies handle unaccompanied migrant children. Kayla's family also pursued legal action. They filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the US Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, alleging that government negligence allowed Walter Martinez to enter and remain in the country. Thanks again for watching. Don't forget to like the video. And if you want to support the channel even more, there's a Patreon link in the description below. Stay safe and I'll see you in the next video.