Local News

Arizona man facing second trial for son’s death is held in La Crosse jail

Published

6 years ago

June 16, 2018

An Arizona man who was briefly convicted of killing his young son more than a decade ago is jailed in La Crosse County.

Jeffrey Martinson is being held on $1 million cash bond, and the state of Arizona wants the 51-year-old returned for a new trial. Martinson was tried several years ago for the 2004 drug overdose death of his 5-year-old son.

Although a jury found Martinson guilty of first-degree murder, charges of misconduct on the part of a juror and a prosecutor led to the dismissal of the murder charge.

The case has been in and out of court over the years, and this week, the Arizona Supreme Court turned down a claim by Martinson’s attorneys that he can’t be tried a second time for the boy’s death.

Martinson was found to be doing construction work in the La Crosse area. He was arrested Thursday.

His next appearance before a La Crosse judge is scheduled for June 22.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.