Martine Mayorquin is accused of first-degree murder and child abuse after Katlynne Roy was found dead April 13.
TUCSON, Ariz. — A Pima County judge set a $1 million bond for Martine Mayorquin after prosecutors said he admitted choking Katlynne Roy twice during a fatal domestic violence attack witnessed by three young children.
The bond decision marked the first major court step in a case that began with emergency calls from a midtown Tucson apartment complex. Mayorquin, 32, is charged with first-degree murder in Roy’s death and three counts of domestic violence child abuse. Prosecutors said the child abuse charges stem from the presence of children ages 7, 5 and 3 during the alleged attack. The defense asked for a lower bond, saying Mayorquin had no prior criminal history, but the judge sided with prosecutors after hearing the allegations.
The courtroom account put the focus on what investigators said Mayorquin told officers after his arrest. A major crimes official said at the first appearance that “the defendant admitted to strangling the victim twice” in front of the three children until she was no longer responsive. According to the complaint, Mayorquin spoke with officers after receiving Miranda warnings. Investigators said he described putting Roy in a rear naked choke hold for about three minutes, taking a short break and then applying the hold again for about five minutes. The complaint also said he punched Roy in the mouth twice between the two chokings. Mayorquin had scratches on his chest and back, and police said he reported that Roy scratched him while fighting back. Those details became central to the prosecution’s argument that the allegations were severe enough to support the high bond request.
The case started shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday, April 13, when Tucson police were called to the 600 block of North Dodge Boulevard. Police said callers reported hearing a commotion from a nearby residence. A neighbor, hearing children scream and cry from the room next door, contacted the property manager. The manager went to the unit and opened the door. Authorities said the manager found Roy lying on the floor and Mayorquin standing over her. The three children were huddled in a bathroom, crying. Officers arrived and found Roy unresponsive with apparent strangulation trauma. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later identified her as 28-year-old Katlynne Roy and described the case as a homicide near Dodge Boulevard and Fifth Street.
The complaint outlined evidence that police said supported the arrest. Roy had injuries to her neck and at least one eye that investigators said were consistent with strangulation. One of the children told authorities he saw his father choking his mother. Officers also documented Mayorquin’s scratches. Investigators have not publicly released an autopsy report, toxicology findings or a full medical examiner’s report. They also have not said whether any weapon was used. The alleged method described in court was manual strangulation by choke hold. In the early public reports, authorities did not describe a motive, a prior dispute or a history of calls involving the couple. Police said detectives determined probable cause to arrest Mayorquin on suspicion of domestic violence first-degree murder and domestic violence child abuse.
The legal process was still in its opening phase when the bond was set. A first appearance is not a trial and does not decide guilt. It gives a judge an early look at the arrest, the charges, release conditions and public safety concerns. Mayorquin remained presumed innocent unless convicted. The high bond means he would have to meet strict financial and court requirements to be released while the case is pending. The prosecution’s request leaned on the most serious facts alleged so far: Roy’s death, the account that the children saw the attack, the alleged confession and the injuries observed at the scene. The defense’s request for a lower amount pointed to Mayorquin’s lack of known prior criminal history. The judge did not resolve the facts but ordered the bond prosecutors sought.
Roy’s death added another homicide investigation to Tucson police work in a residential area that includes apartment buildings, small homes and busy streets near central Tucson. The 600 block of North Dodge Boulevard sits in midtown, where calls can draw quick attention from neighbors, property managers and passing traffic. In this case, police said the call came from people who heard enough noise to involve both 911 and a property manager. That sequence meant officers entered a scene where a witness had already seen the suspect near the victim and the children had already been located in the bathroom. Tucson police said after the initial response that there was no public threat. Their next updates focused on Roy’s identity and Mayorquin’s arrest.
The presence of the children shaped both the charges and the public account of the case. Prosecutors said the children were 7, 5 and 3. One child’s statement that he saw the choking became part of the complaint. Authorities did not release the children’s names, medical status or placement after the arrest. Police have not publicly said how long the children were inside the bathroom before the property manager entered. They also have not said whether the children were interviewed by specialized forensic interviewers or whether child welfare officials were called to the scene. Those details often remain protected when children are witnesses, especially in a homicide case involving parents. The child abuse charges indicate prosecutors believe the children were harmed or endangered by what they witnessed and experienced, even though the public record has not described physical injuries to them.
The next stage was expected to test the early police account through records, hearings and possible grand jury or preliminary proceedings. Prosecutors may rely on officer reports, the complaint, witness statements, medical evidence and any statements Mayorquin made after his arrest. Defense attorneys may challenge the evidence, seek discovery and review whether any statements were legally obtained. The early reports listed April 24 as Mayorquin’s next court date. As of the last public reports reviewed for this story, he was being held in the Pima County Jail on the $1 million bond. The case remained open, with official findings and later court filings still needed to complete the public record.
Author note: Last updated May 7, 2026.