Infant’s remains found in desert, parents arrested

This morning at approximately 5:00 a.m., detectives from the Pima County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit along with members of the Southern Arizona Rescue Dogs Incorporated (SARDI) responded to a remote desert area northwest of Toltec Road and I-10. At approximately 6:19 a.m., cadaver dogs alerted on an area in the desert being searched. Detectives located what is believed to be the remains of Vanessa Martinez, age 8 months, in a shallow grave.

Pima County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives believe that her mother, Olivia Paige Martinez, age 20, and father, Jonathan Niles Kesterson, age 26, are responsible for the child’s death. Mr. Kesterson was apprehended in San Diego, California on April 12, 2012, by the San Diego Police Department, on unrelated charges.

Upon being processed through the San Diego County Jail, comments were made to corrections staff regarding the death. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to provide information related to the investigation.

Homicide detectives flew to San Diego to interview Mr. Kesterson. Based upon the initial interview, warrants were issued for both parents, with charges related to death of their child. Ms. Martinez was extradited to the Pima County Adult Detention Center on Friday, April 20, 2012.

Mr. Kesterson was extradited to the Pima County Adult Detention Center on Monday, April 23, 2012.