Jul 27, 2021

Kansas woman charged in New Year's Day beating death

Posted Jul 27, 2021 1:00 AM
Isabel Martin, 21 of Wichita, was charged with recruiting criminal street gang membership in connection with the homicide.
Isabel Martin, 21 of Wichita, was charged with recruiting criminal street gang membership in connection with the homicide.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman involved in a New Year's Day homicide made a court appearance on July 22.

Isabel Martin was charged with four counts of recruiting criminal street gang membership and is also charged with one count of aggravated robbery.

Investigators said the homicide victim 21-year-old  Gabriel Campos-Torres found on a downtown street on New Year’s Day was not shot, but bludgeoned to death in a possible gang initiation.

New arrest documents filed by police said a medical examiner found no evidence that Campos-Torres had been shot. Instead, his death was ruled the result of blunt force injuries to the torso.

Police had issued public statements that Campos-Torres had been shot. But officials now say what appeared to have been a gunshot wound on the left side of his mouth was a cut that had torn through his cheek. Campos-Torres also suffered a “severe laceration of the liver” and significant internal bleeding.

Noah Martin-photo Sedgwick County
Noah Martin-photo Sedgwick County

Three people have been charged in Campos-Torres’ death including 19-year-old Noah Martin, his 21-year-old sister Isabel Martin and another teenager. 

Police say they followed a trail of blood from where Campos-Torres was found to a house with known gang ties. Investigators say Campos-Torres’ blood was found inside the home, as was his cellphone.

Police said they also have surveillance video and social media message between the Campos-Torres and at least one person arrested.