Las Vegas Christian to Wife and Daughter's Alleged Killer: 'I Forgive You'
A Las Vegas man is attributing his Roman Catholic faith to his ability to forgive the man accused of raping and killing his wife and daughter in a brutal home invasion three months ago.
At a July 12 press conference at his newly re-opened North Las Vegas boxing gym, 39-year-old Arturo Martinez-Sanchez said his faith allows him to forgive Bryan Clay, the 22-year-old man accused of beating his wife and daughter to death with a hammer.
"As a believer in Christ, I know that God forgives all the sins of those who have faith in Him. In this, I am instructed to forgive first. Knowing that God will forgive even murderers if there is true repentance, Bryan Clay will stand in judgment before Him," Martinez-Sanchez told about 75 reporters and supporters at his press conference as he read from a letter he had written.
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"It is my prayer that my wife Yadira and my daughter Karla are in Heaven waiting for my sons and me to arrive to spend eternity with them. In fact, I know this is true," he added tearfully while accompanied by his sons, Christopher Martinez, 10, and Alejandro Martinez, 5.
In an April 15 home invasion, Clay allegedly brutally attacked Martinez-Sanchez with a claw hammer, leaving the married father speechless and incapable of movement.
Clay is accused of then raping wife Yadira Martinez, 38, and daughter Karla, 10, before brutally beating them to death.
According to The Huffington Post, the police were not alerted of the killings until April 16, when Christopher Martinez told his teachers at school that his sister and mother were dead and that his father could not move or speak.
Police reported that the motives behind the brutal attack are unclear. Clay claims to have no recollection of the murders and rape, although he "did not deny being involved."
He also allegedly attempted raping a 50-year-old woman in a separate incident a few hours before invading the Martinez-Sanchez home.
According to The Huffington Post, investigators said that before going on his killing rampage, Clay ingested "dark liquor," several doses of ecstasy, and smoked multiple cigarettes dipped in PCP.
Martinez-Sanchez told those at the press conference that he believes Clay will pay for his crimes here on Earth.
"He will pay for his crimes. He will be punished for what he has done to my family. He must face justice and whatever penalty the judge hands down, including death, if that is how he is sentenced," Martinez-Sanchez told the audience.
In response to a reporter's question of what Martinez-Sanchez would say to Clay if given the chance, he replied:
"I would say, 'I forgive you.' If he kissed me on the cheek, I would kiss him back."
"I love my Yadira. I love my Karla. I love my sons. We all love Jesus. Through his strength, we will survive," he added.
Martinez-Sanchez has undergone two brain operations and immense amounts of physical therapy due to the damage inflicted on his head.
Clay pleaded not guilty to the murders, and is being charged with two counts of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, one count of attempted murder, one count of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, four counts of sexual assault, one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of burglary and one count of robbery.
It is still unsure why Clay chose to spare the lives of Martinez-Sanchez's two sons.
