A well known Turlock doctor, Amanda Crews, has been identified by friends, family, and coworkers as one of the five victims found deceased in a Modesto home Saturday afternoon, reports Central Valley TV.
Dr. Crews, a graduate from Boston College and the Boston University School of Medicine, was a doctor in both Turlock and Modesto for many years.
Modesto police were called to do a security check at a home in the 2600 block of Nob Hill Court at approximately 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Officers discovered five victims — two adults and three children — deceased inside the home.
According to Modesto police, all of the victims, who are all females, are related and the three children are between the ages of 6 months and 6 years old.
Around 10 p.m. Saturday, Modesto police issued a statewide alert for a person of interest in the homicide, identified as Martin Martinez, 30, of Modesto.
San Jose police located Martinez’ 2000 Lincoln Navigator unoccupied, indicated that he may have used another vehicle to flee. Later, police found a second vehicle and took Martinez into custody Sunday morning. Central Valley TV reported that he was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of murder.
Martinez reportedly had a past relationship with one of the victims and is the biological father to one of the children found deceased, said the Modesto Police Department.
According to a press release from 2006, Dr. Crews joined a Turlock medical office in July of that year.
“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor. In high school I did shadowing at a local hospital and went to college with plans to go to medical school. I feel lucky that I had a goal and could work toward it. It took a long time – 11 years – but was worth it.”
Dr. Crews lost a 2-year-old son, Christopher Ray Ripley, in October 2014, according to obituary records. The record lists an expected sister, Rachel Martinez, presumably the suspect’s child. Lauren and Elizabeth Ripley were are also listed as siblings.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Modesto Police Department or Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers, where you can remain anonymous, at 209-521-4636.
