1970-02-21

Child custody dispute ends with fatal shooting

AMARILLO — A bitter child custody dispute ended in tragedy when an Amarillo man shot and killed his former wife after luring her to his home under the pretense of returning their son.

The victim, June Etta Martin, had custody of the couple's son following their divorce, as well as a daughter from a previous marriage.

Martin's former husband, Favis Clay Martin, became convinced she was not properly caring for their son. He traveled to Arizona, where she and the children were living, and brought the boy back to Texas without her permission.

After June Martin filed kidnapping charges, her former husband agreed to return the child if she came to Texas to retrieve him. She traveled to Amarillo with her daughter and a friend of the daughter, Delbert McQueen.

When they arrived, they contacted the former husband, who invited them to his home. Once there, he told them the boy was at a babysitter's house. The group gathered in the kitchen for coffee with the man and his current wife.

The visit turned violent without warning when the former husband pulled out a pistol.

June Martin overturned the kitchen table and attempted to flee. According to witnesses, the man chased her into the living room, pinned her against a wall, and fired four shots. Although she managed to escape the house, she collapsed in the driveway from her injuries.

Martin emptied his handgun while firing at her.

As June Martin's daughter and McQueen rushed to help, the gunman allegedly ordered them away at gunpoint.

Amarillo Police Officer Fred J. Boyce responded to a disturbance call at the residence. As he arrived, he encountered the suspect walking out of the house.

According to Boyce, the man immediately admitted to the shooting, telling the officer, "I guess I'm the one you want; I did it. The gun's in the house on the TV." He then held out his hands to be handcuffed. Officer Boyce discovered June Martin lying in the driveway.

The defendant later entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. A jury first determined he was competent to stand trial. A second jury was then selected to hear the murder case on its merits.