1. Man sentenced in connection with murder case from 1993
2. Sentencing of man involved in 1993 murder case.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Man Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder in 1993 Huntington Case

Ricky Woody Sentenced to 10 Years to Life with Mercy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – In a significant breakthrough, Ricky Woody has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection to the March 1993 killing of Melissa Martinez. The court handed down a sentence of 10 years to life with mercy for Woody, which will run concurrently with his ongoing sentence in Montana.

Following the completion of his term in Montana, Woody will be transferred to the custody of the West Virginia Department of Corrections to serve the remaining period of his new sentence.

The tragic incident occurred on March 16, 1993, when Huntington Police officers rushed to the 1400 block of 4 ½ Alley after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim, initially identified as Lisa Estepp, suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso and head lacerations.

Despite efforts to save her, Melissa Martinez, as she was later identified, succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.

During the initial investigation in 1993, several witnesses provided crucial information that ultimately led detectives to focus on Ricky Woody as the primary suspect in Martinez’s murder. However, at the time, there was insufficient evidence to press charges against him.

Within a year of Martinez’s death, Woody relocated from Huntington to Billings, Montana.

In a significant turn of events, the Billings Police Department contacted the Huntington Police Department in May 2021, revealing that Ricky Woody had made a statement regarding a murder he was aware of in Huntington during the early 1990s.

According to Woody’s statement, he claimed knowledge of the person responsible for the killing, referring to her as “Lisa.” During his interaction with Billings Police detectives, Woody provided additional details and eventually confessed his involvement in her death.

Following this revelation, Huntington Police detectives reviewed the original investigative file and conducted an interview with Woody in September 2021 at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility in Montana.

The new evidence collected during this interview, combined with the details from the initial investigation, led to the formal charges against Ricky Woody for the murder of Melissa Martinez.

The Huntington Police Department expresses its gratitude to the original investigators who laid the groundwork for this case in 1993. Their unwavering dedication and efforts have finally brought justice in the tragic death of Melissa Martinez.

Stay updated with the latest developments on this case by regularly checking the WSAZ app.

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1. “Man sentenced in connection with 1993 murder case”
2. “1993 murder case connection sentencing”.