Arizona man Anthony Martinez sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 death of his son, Deshaun Martinez

A northern Arizona man has been sentenced to life in prison on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, in the 2020 starvation death of his 6-year-old son, court records show.

A Coconino County judge on Friday sentenced Anthony Martinez, 28, to life in prison for murder, with additional prison time tied to child abuse and kidnapping convictions for abusing the deceased child and an older brother.

In addition, cumulative sentences of three years in prison were added to two convictions for aggravated assault, which can be served concurrently or deducted from time spent in custody.

The Arizona Daily Sun reported that Martinez declined to speak during the court hearing but wrote a letter to his children that was read aloud by a defense attorney, apologizing “for everything I put you through.”

A legal representative for Martinez did not immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment Saturday.

Presiding Judge Ted Reed cited aggravating factors in sentencing Martinez, describing the crimes as particularly heinous and cruel while Martinez was in a position of trust as the children's father.

The judge also acknowledged that Martinez suffered a traumatic childhood and had no prior criminal convictions.

Authorities say the deceased boy, Deshaun Martinez, was locked in a tiny bedroom closet for 16 hours a day for a month with his older brother as punishment for stealing food from the home at night while their parents were sleeping.

An autopsy showed the boy weighed just 18 pounds when he died, well below average for his age. The manner of death was listed as a homicide.

The boy's mother, Elizabeth Archibeque, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse and was sentenced in July 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.