Introduction to the Case
A man was convicted Wednesday of murdering his pregnant wife and her unborn child in El Monte just over seven years ago. The Pomona jury deliberated about 1 1/2 days before finding Octavio Curiel Martinez, now 43, guilty of first-degree murder for the Aug. 29, 2018, shooting of his wife, Ana Maria Nuñez, 37, who was about six months pregnant, and her fetus.
The Conviction and Charges
Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, along with allegations that he used and discharged a handgun. The seven-man, five-woman panel also convicted Curiel Martinez of one count each of attempted murder of his father, shooting at an occupied dwelling and assault by means likely to produce injury, along with two counts each of corporal injury to a spouse and assault with a firearm involving his father and mother and three misdemeanor counts of child endangerment involving the couple’s two children and his stepson.
Sentencing and Next Steps
Curiel Martinez is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set Feb. 3. Jurors are due back in court Thursday to resume deliberations in a second phase of the trial, in which the prosecution has alleged that the defendant has four prior misdemeanor convictions that it contends are numerous or of increasing seriousness.
The Prosecution’s Argument
During the prosecution’s closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Meghan Tallent told the jury that Curiel Martinez “very effectively shot and killed” his wife with two shots to the back, and that he also intended to kill her unborn child by leaving his wife for dead. The prosecutor said the defendant believed that the unborn child was the result of an alleged affair that he suspected between his wife and his father, saying that there were no signs of a fight or struggle with his wife.
The Defense’s Argument
One of the defendant’s attorneys, Harvey Sherman, asked jurors to acquit his client of both counts of first-degree murder. “Did he really have a plain as laid out by the prosecution?” the defense lawyer asked jurors. Sherman argued that Curiel Martinez “did not act willfully, deliberately and with premeditation,” saying that jurors could instead potentially return a verdict on second-degree murder.
Background and Previous Incidents
Octavio Curiel-Martinez, then 37, was extradited from Mexico to the United States on Jan. 3, 2020, to face murder charges in the Aug. 2018 killing of his then-pregnant wife, Ana Maria Nuñez. (Courtesy of the the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department) Curiel Martinez was subsequently extradited from Mexico, where he had fled after killing his wife, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor said Curiel Martinez was also involved in attacks on his wife in December 2016 and December 2017, including one in which she was left unconscious while the three children were in the home, along with shooting at his father’s vehicle as he drove away some time in the month leading up to his wife’s killing.
Conclusion
The conviction of Octavio Curiel Martinez for the murder of his pregnant wife and her unborn child brings closure to a horrific case. The evidence presented in court, including the prosecution’s argument and the defense’s counterargument, highlights the complexity of the case. The sentencing of Curiel Martinez to life in prison without the possibility of parole serves as a reminder of the severity of the crime.
FAQs
Q: What was Octavio Curiel Martinez convicted of?
A: Octavio Curiel Martinez was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting of his wife, Ana Maria Nuñez, and her unborn child.
Q: What were the special circumstance allegations?
A: The special circumstance allegations included multiple murders and the use and discharge of a handgun.
Q: What is the sentencing for Curiel Martinez?
A: Curiel Martinez is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set Feb. 3.
Q: How can someone experiencing domestic violence obtain help?
A: Anyone experiencing or at risk of domestic violence can obtain help by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
By TERRI VERMEULEN KEITH
Originally Published: October 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM PDT
