Jozlynn Mari Martinez Never Found -- Jeffrey Malmberg Convicted Of Second-Degree Murder

An amber alert has been issued for Jozlynn Mari Martinez.



Missing Child
Name: Jozlynn Mari Martinez
Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown
Skin Color: Hispanic Age: 2
Height: 2 FT 9 Weight: 22 LBS
Gender: Female
Description: Scab on her chin, spot on right side of her head that doesn't grow hair, walks with her feet turned inward



Suspect
Name: Jeffery Lynn Malmbert
Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown
Skin Color: White Age: 40
Height: 5 FT 11 Weight: 170 LBS
Gender: Male
Description: Tattoo of a red rose on top of his left forearm, tattoo on his right forearm, last seen wearing a blue GVSU hoody, gray/white/black winter coat, gray/blue pants

Updated: Amber Alert issued in Grand Rapids

February 24, 2010 3:00 PM



GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Police in Grand Rapids are looking for a missing child believed to be in danger.

On Wednesday evening, police have located the suspected abductor, but the child is still missing.

Police say Jozlynn Mari Martinez was last seen in bed on Monday night at 11:00 pm. When the child's mother awoke at 9:00 am Tuesday, the child and her live-in boyfriend, Jeffrey Malmberg, were gone. Police say Malmberg did not take appropriate clothing for the child, but did take $2,800 in cash from the mother's purse.

The child's mother, Consuela Martinez, says that at first she thought Malmberg, who in the past has taken in the child for a few hours in the morning, was running errands and would be returning. Martinez checked throughout the day with family and friends but was unable to locate Malmberg or Jazlynn.

The missing child, Jozlynn Mari Martinez, is a two-year-old girl, described as standing 2 ' 9” tall, weighing 22 pounds with brown eyes, brown hair, with a scab on her chin and a spot on the right side of her head that doesn't grow hair. Martinez is said to walk with her feet turned inward.

The suspect, Jeffery Lynn Malmberg, is a 40-year-old white male. He is described as standing 5' 11”, weighing 170 pounds with brown eyes, black hair, a tattoo of a red rose on the top of his left forearm, and a tattoo on his right forearm. Malmberg was last seen wearing a blue GVSU hooded sweatshirt, and a gray/white/black winter coat.

The Kent County Prosecutor's Office has authorized a warrant charging Malmberg with one count of kidnapping and one count of larceny.

Newschannel 3 has learned that Malmberg has a long criminal history, including numerous arrests for drugs, as well as several domestic violence charges, which is part of what has police concerned.

As of 7:00 pm Wednesday, police say they have located Malmberg, who is currently being held by Lansing Police, but they have not yet located the missing girl. The search for her continues.

Anyone with information about the alleged victim or abductor is asked to immediately call 911 or contact the Grand Rapids Police Department at 616-456-3604.

Stay with Newschannel 3 for the latest in this developing story.

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1373056-bottom-grand.html

Jeffery Malmberg in custody; Jozlynn Martinez still missing, Amber Alert still active

Bob Brenzing, Jeff Quackenbush, Jessica Puchala
Updated:2/25/2010 3:44:44 PM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The man suspected of kidnapping a Grand Rapids girl has been taken into custody in Lansing, but police still don't know where the girl is.

Michigan State Police located 40-year-old Jeffery Malmberg of Grand Rapids in Lansing. An Amber Alert was issued for Malmberg after his girlfriend, Consuela Martinez told police he took her two year old daughter, Jozlynn Martinez.

Martinez was not with Malmberg when he was spotted in Lansing, and an Amber Alert is still active for the two year old. Jozlynn Martinez is 2 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 22 pounds and has brown eyes, brown hair and a scab on her chin.

In Grand Rapids Family Court this afternoon, a second child in the home of Consuela Martinez was taken into custody by Child Protective Services. The court said that since the conditions of Jozlynn's disappearance are unclear, this was a precaution.

Anyone with information on Martinez's location should call Grand Rapids Police at 911 or (616) 456-3604.

Martinez says she last saw her two year old daughter Jozlynn when she tucked her into bed Monday night at 11:00p.m., and told her, she loved her.

Malmberg often cares for Jozlynn and takes her places, so Martinez wasn't alarmed initially when the two were not in the apartment when she woke up at 9:00a.m. Tuesday.

"He left the house key and the doors downstairs unlocked," Martinez said.

Martinez waited several hours and then noticed her income tax return of $2800 was missing from her purse, so she called police.

"There is no past history of this," said Grand Rapids Police Sergeant Mark Mathis.

Sergeant Mathis arrived at Martinez' Northwest side home in the 900 block of Nagold Street Wednesday evening. Mathis, along with two other Grand Rapids Police investigators were re-checking the apartment and going over facts with Martinez when they were informed Malmberg was arrested in Lansing and en-route to Grand Rapids.

"We're still checking some other things to see if perhaps he dropped the child off or if the child is somewhere else," Sergeant Mathis said.

Martinez said she was felt some relief when police told her they found Malmberg, but that quickly changed when she was informed her daughter was not with him.

"He would normally never trust anyone with Jozlynn," said Martinez.

Martinez says Malmberg has history of drug abuse. Martinez says she filed a Personal Protection Order against Malmberg because he threatened to kill her while she was pregnant with her second child. Martinez says she later withdrew the order.

The night before Jozlynn was taken, Martinez says she briefly argued with Malmberg about money. Martinez says it makes sense if Malmberg stole her cash, but she doesn't now why he would take her daughter, and leave his biological 7 month old son.

"I know all his friends are from Big Rapids, Remus, but nobody in Lansing," said Martinez.

Martinez hopes Malmberg's arrest lead to her daughter's safe return.

"Anybody could have gotten to her and hurt her. I hope she knows that I love her," Martinez said.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=118866&catid=14

This is another mom who chose to keep her abusive drug addict BF in her home. Now she says she hopes that her two-year old missing daughter knows that she loves her.
Sure, but not enough to keep her safe in her own home.
This kind of situation keeps repeating all over the U.S. Mothers who endanger the lives of their childrens by associating with or living with scum.
The scum left their 7 month-old son, but the woman wonders why he didn't take his son rather than her daughter? Wake up, now you have no kids to worry about, since CPS took the baby away.
That was a big tax return, was the scum even employed or did this woman allow him to live off of her income, and possibly some welfare funds.

What a shame. I totally agree, Cali. This is repeated over and over and over again. These women choosing the POS BF's over their child's safety. Then keep having more babies.
It doesn't surprise me he took the money and ran. I'm sure her refund was generous because of the Earned Income Credit and claiming Head of Household, meaning single with dependents. When all along a grown man, most likely not working, living in the house. I'm not implying anything is wrong with the tax credits, it is a godsend to working single mothers. It's the worthless POS they support with tax payer's money.

But what's fishy is why take Jozlynn? What drug user would want to be saddled with a 2 yr old if you've got $2,800 cash to go party on? I would think they should be checking the dumpsters and landfill. This sadly sounds like a familiar story. He was running, IMO. I certainly hope it turns out differently and Jozlynn is found, it doesn't look good though. What a pretty little angel she is.

There have been commercials airing in my area, targeting young single mothers to "Choose Your Partner Carefully - Your Child's Life Depends On It". It is from Hamilton County Family Services. It could be a great tool, but unfortunately I don't know if the young mothers would listen. The POS boyfriends always seem to take precedence over the safety of their children. I was glad to see the commercials, you never know, even if only a few mothers take heed and listen. It could potentially save the life or prevent the abuse of more children.



http://www.knowthewarningsigns.com/

I hope for Jozlynn's safe return

As I was reading this story, I was thinking the same thing as the rest of you. ANOTHER mother put her child in danger by allowing her abusive BF to live in the same home with the child.

Do you suppose these mothers will EVER wise up? How many times does this have to happen before these mothers finally decide to put the children's safety FIRST.

I pray this scumbag hasn't harmed Jozlynn.

Piper, that is a very telling statistic that one-third of child abuse deaths since 2005 came at the hands of mom's boyfriend. I know those statistics are only from one county, but I wouldn't be surprised if the national average is close to that. These mothers have got to wake up and start putting their children first.

I pray for Jozlynn's safe return and I really hope that Malmbert didn't harm her or sell her to some freak.

These moms are so desperate for a guy to "take care of them" that they are willing to risk their children's lives. One would think that they'd be more careful in choosing boyfriends, especially with all the creeps out there. But, they seem to think that these guys are wonderful, regardless of their criminal records. Which all of them seem to have...

The commercial needs to be broadcast nationwide. Like you said, Piper, it doesn't mean they will listen, but even if it could help a few~

I am praying that this loser did not hurt Jozlynn.

Hamilton County is basically Cincinnati. The commercials are being broadcast in all of the surrounding areas in SW Ohio including Northern Kentucky and SE Indiana. I would love to see this broadcast nationwide. Maybe, just maybe...it would save another child.

I do hope the Choose Your Partners warning will go mationwide. Even if Uncle picks up the tab - but I would think it could be gently or not so gently "coaxed" into a lot of broadcast channels by calling it a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. Kudos for Hamilton County. I say start showing it in PE classes in Middle Schools too. Reach them before it starts..

How sad... what a beautiful child!

I agree these commercials should be in US and Canada...

I think lots of it is about breaking the cycle.. It seems like many of these women grow up in abusive homes, and then create one for their adult lives and prolly even more abusive than what they knew themselves... Sad!

Noooo, there's something wrong here. I'm not gonna say what I think just yet because I don't want to jump the gun but that interview really bothers me.

They should broadcast that message wherever there is a young girl and a tv. I agree with Cali, middle school is a good place to show it also. It has been 28 yrs since I was in middle school and there was a girl who got pregnant. IN THE SEVENTH GRADE!!!

AJ~I totally agree about the cycle. I broke the cycle in my family but my sisters couldn't and they have in fact treated their children worse than they were ever treated. It's sad.

I see a few alarming statements in this update. And they were fighting over money, which I assume was her tax return money. They had a custody hearing scheduled for yesterday in regards to the 7 month old.


Mom: 'I don't know if daughter is dead'
Jozlynn Mari Martinez has been missing for days

Updated: Friday, 26 Feb 2010, 10:30 AM EST
Published : Thursday, 25 Feb 2010, 4:59 PM EST
By Joe LaFurgey and Jessica Leffler

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The mother of Jozlynn Mari Martinez met with police twice Thursday to discuss her missing 2-year-old daughter.

At around 4:30 p.m., she and another family member left her home with two Grand Rapids officers for a second meeting -- her first was overnight. She was not in handcuffs. As of 8:45 p.m., she was still with police.

Consuela Martinez has not seen her daughter since 11 p.m. Monday. The 21-year-old Grand Rapids mother is desperate -- and looking for answers.

So are police. Just before 9 p.m., they returned to Martinez's home in a forensics van, equipped with evidence bags and cameras to photograph around the house.

They have talked to a suspect -- Martinez's boyfriend of 1.5 years, Jeffrey Malmberg, -- the family and Martinez. But there are no answers as to Jozlynn's whereabouts.

"I don't know if she's dead," Martinez said. "I don't know if she's just hurt a little bit."

Officers have spent an extended amount of time with Martinez.

She has not been arrested or threatened with arrest, she said.

Asked 24 Hour News 8: "Do you understand why police were so tough on you?"

Said Martinez: "They said because it was somebody close had gotten to her."

Police initially thought Jozlynn was with Malmberg. Martinez woke up Tuesday morning in the couple's home in the 900 block of Nagold Street NW to find her daughter and boyfriend gone. But Malmberg was located at around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the Lansing area. Police are in the process of re-tracing his steps.

He and Martinez have an infant son together, but Malmberg is not Jozlynn's father. A custody hearing for 7-month-old Brian was set for Thursday but has been rescheduled for March 11. Child Protective Services took the baby away from Martinez on Thursday morning.

Malmberg remains jailed Thursday and is set for arraignment on kidnapping charges Friday. He has denied any involvement in the case, said police, who are checking his alibis.

Martinez took out a personal protection order against Malmberg one year ago Saturday. He had threatened her, according to court records.

Malmberg later said to police he had never laid a hand on Martinez, but told an officer, "but that is going to change now."

Martinez dropped the PPO in August 2009. She said Malmberg had changed, gotten a job and was treating her and the children better.

Now, she regrets dropping the protection order.

"If I would have known this would happen, I wouldn't have," Martinez said. "I just -- I had no clue."

Neighbors in the area Thursday night were putting up signs with Jozlynn's photo in an attempt to find her.

"It's a little disgusting something like this could happen," said Bethany Hollinan, who was one of many canvassing the community and stapling posters on telephone poles. "I mean, it's your own kid -- you don't know where they are. If someone took (her), then it's frightening."

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Mom-I-dont-know-if-daughter-is-dead

Watch the video in the above link, I can't get it posted. She says she doesn't want Jozlynn to have another broken bone.........the reporter asks what that meant. "Well, she had gotten a broken bone back in December". How do you "get" a broken bone?? She goes on to explain that Jozlynn fell off a chair, and kept complaining her leg hurt so she took her to the doctor a couple of weeks later and her leg was broken. SHE WASN'T HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HE WAS WATCHING HER......she goes on to say it wasn't suspicious because it happened like he said. That poor baby, my God. This stupid ass mother. I am just furious.

Here's the video Piper referenced above:

GRPD: Jozlynn died at home Monday

GRPD Chief Belk addressed media late Friday

Updated: Friday, 26 Feb 2010, 7:35 PM EST
Published : Friday, 26 Feb 2010, 5:35 PM EST

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Jozlynn Martinez died Monday night in her home and her body was disposed of in a trash receptacle, said Grand Rapids police chief Kevin Belk late Friday.

In a statement, Belk said Jeffrey Malmberg admitted to investigators the 2-year-old died in the home and he disposed of her body. Police have been searching the Kent County Waste-to-Energy facility.

Belk said the child's body has not been found, and would not say whether police believed the death was accidental or deliberate.

Jozlynn's mother, Consuela Martinez, still hopes the police and Malmberg are wrong about her daughter being dead.

"I know they are looking for her body. If they don't find it, I won't have closure, and my son won't have closure. We have no proof," Martinez said.

Malmberg was arraigned on kidnapping charges earlier Friday, and remains in jail on a $1 million bond.

===

Here's the full full text of Chief Belk's statment:

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010, the Grand Rapids Police Department was notified of a missing 2 year-old child from 915 Nagold St NW.

The mother of the child, Consuela Martinez, told police she last saw her child on Monday evening along with her live in boyfriend, Jeffery Malmberg, and a second child who is 7 months old.

Martinez said when she woke up at 9 am on Tuesday morning, Malmberg and her daughter, Jozlynn, were not at home. Also missing at the time was money from the home. Martinez first thought that Malmberg, who in the past has taken the child for a few hours in the morning, was running errands and would be returning. Martinez checked throughout the day with family and friends and was not able to locate Malmberg or Jozlynn.

On Wednesday afternoon, February 24, 2010, an Amber Alert was issued for both Jozylnn and Malmberg. The Kent County Prosecutors Office authorized an arrest warrant charging Malmberg with one count of kidnapping and one count of larceny.

As a result of the Amber Alert, a citizen contacted the Grand Rapids Police Department. Malmberg was located in the City of Lansing. He was returned to Grand Rapids and has spoken to investigators.

The suspect, Jeffery Malmberg, has told Grand Rapids Police Department and FBI investigators that Jozlynn Marie Martinez died on Monday evening at 915 Nagold NW and that he disposed of her body in a nearby trash receptacle.

Grand Rapids Police Department and FBI personnel, since last evening, have searched through over 200,000 pounds of trash at the Kent County Waste to Energy Facility on Market Street SW. The two-day search involved nearly 70 investigators. Despite our efforts, we have yet to find Jozlynn's body. Our search continues at this hour.











http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/GRPD-Jozlynn-died-at-home-Monday

This is very sad news. Why do these mothers keep allowing lowlifes around their children?