Shivangi Sinha
In April 2008, the remains of Lola Martinez, a student at Indiana University-Purdue University, were found in the apartment she shared with three other friends. It was one of her roommates who discovered her remains. Police used CCTV footage to track down the killer, but other evidence also came to light during the investigation. ID’s ‘Murder University,’ particularly the episode ‘The Mystery in Room 460,’ examines the details of the case and how it was ultimately solved.
Lola Martinez Was Killed in Her Dorm Room at IPFW
Liette Nicole “Lola” Martinez was born on September 22, 1985, in Silver City, New Mexico, to parents Gabriel and Geraldine Estrada Martinez. She was their only daughter and was raised with immense love and affection. A bright and brilliant young woman, Lola was a cheerleader and a member of the pom squad at Vista Middle School. She also had an artistic side, which she continued to nurture after graduating from high school in 2004 and joining New Mexico State University. As a member of the Digital Art Club, she often immersed herself in creative projects that she took great pride in. She had a deep love for art and photography in all their forms.
She went on to join Indiana University-Purdue University (IPFW) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as part of an exchange program and was quite excited about the opportunities that lay ahead of her. She lived on campus in a dorm suite with three other roommates and was thriving in her new environment. However, on April 18, 2008, one of her roommates returned home to discover her remains. The police were immediately informed, and she was pronounced dead upon their arrival. The official cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds. The medical report also documented burn marks on her body, which were consistent with something hot having been poured on her.
Lola Martinez’s Killer Stole Her Car and Ran After the Crime
At the crime scene, the police were able to retrieve the murder weapon, and a pan was also found next to Lola Martinez’s remains. When detectives began questioning her roommates, they learned that one of them, Tanzania Morris, had her mother, Tina Morris, staying with them for approximately two weeks. The arrangement had reportedly created some friction between the roommates. Investigators also obtained CCTV footage showing who had entered the apartment, as its locks were controlled through an electronic key system. According to the episode, one of Lola’s friends told police that they had spent time at his apartment until 1 am on the night before the incident. Lola had reportedly been agitated following an alleged tiff with Tanzania but had eventually decided to return home.
The CCTV footage showed Tina as the last person to leave the apartment before Lola’s remains were discovered. Lola’s car was also missing. Fort Wayne police identified Tina as a “person of interest” and issued a description of a 2006 silver Mazda with New Mexico plates, which belonged to Lola. They released a bulletin stating that they wanted to interview Tina, but she eventually surrendered on her own. According to police records, she initially claimed that she had attacked Lola in self-defense following an argument with her daughter. However, the police officers featured in the episode said they did not believe her account. Investigators suspected that, following an argument with Tanzania, Tina had thrown hot water on Lola before stabbing her. She was detained on murder, felony murder, robbery and auto theft charges.
Tina Morris is Being Held in a Prison in Indiana Today
Tina Morris initially pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her. However, she later changed her plea and agreed to plead guilty to Lola Martinez’s murder in exchange for having all the other charges against her dropped. She was subsequently sentenced to 60 years in prison for the killing. Morris is currently being held at the Rockville Correctional Facility in Parke County, Indiana, where she continues to serve her sentence. Her earliest possible release date has been set for 2036.
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