By Khalida Sarwari
Police have named a person of interest in the death of a 20-year-old woman found lying in the middle of a San Jose street on Monday morning.
Norma Leticia Martinez was found injured in front of Our Lady Star of the Sea church at 1385 Michigan Ave. at about 6:45 a.m. Monday.
It appears Martinez was pulled along the street by a vehicle for at least a block, but it is unclear whether she was dragged or was holding onto the car, according to police.
She died hours later at a nearby hospital.
The alleged driver of the car, 19-year-old Jennifer Bautista, is a person of interest in the case and police are trying to locate her, Officer Jermaine Thomas said.
Thomas said Martinez and Bautista knew each other, but he declined to disclose their relationship.
Martinez’s older sister, Evelyn Estrada, said Bautista was her sister’s girlfriend and that the two had recently broken up.
As police cleared the crime scene today, Martinez’s friends and family milled about the neighborhood, trying to make sense of her death.
At Lujan Market down the street, Stella Juarez, whose family owns the store, said she regretted not wishing Martinez a happy new year when she came into the store Saturday.
“She was so polite, always had a smile on her face,” Juarez said.
Juarez’s nephew said he saw Martinez come and go at the store, often for a few minutes and up to five times a day. He described her as “very sincere, enthusiastic, and optimistic, with a sense of direction.”
“She didn’t have problems with anybody in the neighborhood,” he said.
Estrada said Bautista and Martinez had an on-again, off-again relationship. Court records show Bautista filed a domestic violence restraining order against Martinez on Jan. 28, which was granted the following month.
Estrada said that a few weeks ago, Martinez had made a final decision to end the relationship, and she said Bautista hadn’t taken the break-up well.
Estrada said Bautista began constantly visiting Martinez and texting her. On Monday morning, Estrada said, Bautista had come by Martinez’s apartment as she was heading off to work.
Martinez’s 19-year-old brother, Juan, said today he is sad and angry.
He pointed at a bag containing brand-new clothes his sister had recently bought.
“I still feel like she hasn’t passed away, like she’s just away at work,” he said.