DE’ KELVIN MARTIN SENTENCED TO DEATH

Maximum Penalty for Murderous Attack on Atlanta Family

Atlanta—Days after convicting 36-year old De’Kelvin Martin of the triple murder of an Atlanta family seven years ago a Fulton County jury sentenced him to death on February 6, 2009. Martin was convicted one week earlier of multiple counts of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Sodomy, Rape and Cruelty to Children Charges for the brutal attack on his former girlfriend, her son and her grandparents.

Martin admitted he was high on drugs and alcohol on the night of October 1, 2002 when he began violently raping and sodomizing his girlfriend, Tymika Wright, at knifepoint. When her 12-year-old son Savion came from his bedroom to see what was happening, Martin attacked the boy with the knife and left him lying in a pool of blood. When the girlfriend’s grandmother, 77-year-old Ila Ivery came to investigate the commotion, the defendant chased her down a hallway and stabbed her repeatedly. He then attacked her husband, Travis Ivery, who was also trying to come to the victims’ aid.  The 83-year old man was stabbed so forcefully, the knife broke and became lodged in his chest. After those attacks, Martin continued to rape his girlfriend in front of their two year old son, whose life he spared. He later stole money out of the grandfather’s wallet while he lay dead on the floor. Savion Wright, the 12-year old boy, also died that night. The grandmother initially survived the attack but died three months later from her injuries. Tymika Wright, the defendant’s girlfriend, died years later due to unrelated medical causes.

Jurors deliberated for approximately one day before returning with their penalty verdicts. Martin received a total of two death sentences, two life sentences, plus forty-two years for his crimes. In an exit interview with the jury, the 12-member panel told prosecutors the heinous nature of the crime, the fact that an innocent child was savagely murdered and Martin’s lack of remorse convinced them that death was the appropriate punishment.

District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. hopes today’s verdict gives some measure of closure to the victims’ family and sends a strong message to the community, saying, “Crimes against children and the elderly, especially those that are this egregious in nature, will simply not be tolerated in Fulton County.”

Superior Court Judge John J. Goger presided over the case.  It was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shondeana Morris along with Senior ADA Lance Cross and ADA Lenny Krick with assistance from Investigator Kip Young from the DA’s Investigation’s Unit. Retired Atlanta Police Department Detective Lynn Daniels led the initial investigation.