Jefferson County District Attorney announced that a jury has convicted George Madrid, 40, of the First Degree Murder of James Martinez. The jury deliberated almost three days before returning their unanimous verdict late yesterday afternoon.

This murder occurred in April, 2004, and went unsolved for two years. Madrid was eventually indicted by the Jefferson County Grand Jury on one count of First Degree Murder after Deliberation in July, 2006. 

Madrid and Martinez were involved in an arrangement involving the sale of cocaine. Martinez owed Madrid money on April 12, 2004, when Madrid went to the house in Lakewood where Martinez was living, and confronted him. Madrid told Martinez, “Today is the day you meet your maker.” Madrid took a large butcher knife out of the kitchen and he and Martinez left the apartment with a third man who is still being investigated.

Later that day, Madrid returned to the apartment with the bent and bloody knife, but without Martinez.

A week later a man was out with his small daughter, cruising around on his four-wheeler, when he came upon the body of James Martinez in the wooded area around his Evergreen home.

“This was a difficult investigation from the beginning,” said DA Scott Storey. “Madrid is a dangerous man and anyone who may have been a witness was very reluctant to talk to investigators. The Sheriff’s Office did an outstanding job in this case; they were relentless and continue to be dedicated to the protection of these witnesses.” 

Madrid completed a 17-year prison sentence for manslaughter just six months before Martinez was murdered.

Many of the witnesses in this case were family members or people involved in intimate relationships with Madrid or with other potential witnesses. Despite vigilant efforts by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office it took months before the first witness was willing to talk to them. Investigators believe the case moved forward after Madrid had been charged with federal gun charges and was in custody. He later was sentenced to prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Sentencing has been set for January 26 at 1:00 p.m. Madrid will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.