4 children, father found dead at Georgia home

UPDATE: 7/7/2017 9:55 a.m. A mother accused of stabbing and killing four of her children and her husband in Gwinnett County, Georgia appeared in court Friday (7/7) morning. Thirty-three year-old Isabel Martinez was charged with six counts of aggravated assault, five counts of murder and five counts of malice murder. Asked if she wanted legal representation, Martinez, through her translator, told the judge she will represent herself. Martinez denied her right to an attorney despite the judge’s high recommendation. According to Gwinnett Country police, a man and four children were found stabbed to death in a Loganville home Thursday (7/6) morning. They said when officers arrived at the home on Emory Lane, they found the victims dead. A fifth child was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Because of the murder charges, Martinez will remain at the Gwinnett County Jail without bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for July 20th. Police have identified the victims as Martin Romero, 33, Isabela Martinez, 10, Dacota Romero, 7, Dillan Romero, 4, and Axel Romero, 2. Diana Romero, 9, is in serious, but stable condition at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Gwinnett County police are investigating for a possible motive to what led to the deadly stabbing.

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A mother was being questioned in the fatal stabbings of four of her children and their father, police in Gwinnett County, Georgia, said Thursday.

One child was found with injuries, officials said. That girl’s condition was unknown.

All of the children discovered at the home near Loganville, about 30 miles east of Atlanta, appear to be under age 10, officials said. The male victim was in his mid-30s.

The call came in shortly before 5 a.m., Gwinnett County police said.

“This is a horrendous crime not only for the victims but for the extended family, neighborhood and community,” police said. “We are hoping and praying that the remaining victim survives his/her injuries and makes a full recovery.”

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence and were interviewing neighbors.

The family has lived in the quiet community for three or four months, according to neighbor Jim Hollandsworth, who works at an after-school program the children had attended. The family has relatives in the area, the neighbor said.