It’s been eight days since 5-year-old Helliono Martinez was last seen with his father, Charles Martinez, at their home on U.S. Highway 160 in Cortez. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office are working together to locate the boy.
On July 18, CBI issued an Endagered Missing Alert for the boy after the pair were last spotted July 16 in a gold 2011 Dodge Ram. According to a news release from CBI on Tuesday, investigators have located the vehicle but have not found the two males.
Helliono’s mother, Chrystal Snow, was found shot to death at her home in Pagosa Springs on July 2. The boy was later located alive with his aunt after the incident. CBI has not named any person of interest for the murder, according to the release.
Helliono’s brother, 17-year-old Hevon Martinez, was arrested by Cortez Police on July 7 after reports of suspicious activity and shots fired at a vehicle, according to a CrimeWatch alert from Cortez Police Department. He is being held at the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center in Grand Junction.
At a hearing in Archuleta County on July 10, a discussion between the 17-year-old’s legal council and Judge Justin Fay revealed that Martinez was being investigated for the murder of his mother.
On July 16, the state of Colorado was granted emergency custody of Helliono by a court order obtained by the Department of Human Services, the CBI release said. Investigators learned that same day that Helliono was last seen with his father at around 1:30 p.m. that day.
Law enforcement is growing more concerned with the child’s well-being and is asking the public for help in finding the pair. They ask the public to call 911 or MCSO at (970) 565-8452 if they are seen, and to not approach the pair.
