Newton Man Charged With Murder After Toddler's Death

One week after a Catawba County toddler died, the Newton man accused of beating him was led to jail on a murder charge.

Armando Martinez, 27, is accused of beating Ethan Gibbs to death a month before the child’s second birthday. The boy’s mother said he’s the brother of the woman she hired to watch Ethan.

The toddler was taken to the hospital last week with bleeding from one ear, a spiral fracture to his arm, traumatic injury to his brain and bruising on his head, genital area and buttocks. He died of blunt trauma to the head while in intensive care last Thursday.

Martinez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was initially charged with felony child abuse.

As Martinez was walked into the Catawba County jail Thursday, he said, “I’m sorry.”

Amanda Gibbs said she doesn’t accept the apology.

“He can apologize all he wants but it isn’t going to bring my son back,” she said.

Investigators said they believe Martinez got angry and attacked the child at the East First Street home he shared with his sister. He was watching the boy while she was at a doctor’s appointment. Lt. Lemuel Martin of the Newton Police Department said it was the worst case of child abuse he had ever seen.

After Martinez was first charged last week, the Department of Social Services removed his four children from the home.

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