JACK COUNTY ( KFDX/KJTL ) — The Jacksboro Police Department has identified the victim found beaten to death inside a residence Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Lee Martinez, 35, of Jacksboro , was booked into the Jack County Jail on a charge of murder after police found a woman beaten to death inside a residence in Jacksboro earlier that morning.

Police said the victim and Martinez were related and lived in the same residence, but initially did not disclose the nature of their relationship pending notification of the family.

Chief of Police Bryan Corb on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, identified the victim as Maria Quintanar. Chief Corb confirmed that Quintanar is the mother of Martinez. He said Quintanar’s body had been transferred for an autopsy.

Officers with the Jacksboro Police Department responded to the 400 block of North 4th Street at 11:56 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, regarding an unattended death.

Authorities said as officers approached, they discovered the body of a deceased female lying face down on the floor. Upon further investigation, it was determined the victim had been beaten to death.

According to Chief Corb, Quintanar appeared to have been bludgeoned.

Chief Corb said when officers arrived, they found a man, identified as Martinez, sitting in a chair on the front porch, and the front door of the residence open. They said the suspect had injuries on his hands consistent with the incident.

Questions on whether Martinez may be connected to another death in Jacksboro from September 2022 have not been addressed officially.

The body of 26-year-old Nancy Smith was discovered by deputies with the Jack County Sheriff’s Office on September 26, 2022, after a resident called to report a body in the 300 block of South Highway 281 in Jacksboro.

Smith’s body was sent off for an autopsy, but as of the publication of this story, no more information has been released regarding the investigation into her death. Authorities confirmed Texas Rangers are in charge of that investigation.

According to Nancy Smith’s obituary , she was survived by several family members, including a sibling named Lee Martinez, the same name as the suspect in Tuesday’s death. Smith’s mother is listed in Smith’s obituary as Maria Isabel Quintanar Smith.

Authorities have not yet confirmed a connection between Martinez and Nancy Smith.

Our newsroom reached out to officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding Nancy Smith’s death. We are currently awaiting additional information from DPS officials.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texoma’s Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.