EDGEWOOD, Md. (WBFF) — Project Baltimore is learning new information about how an MS-13 gang member, and murder suspect, was able to enroll and attend a Maryland public school. The mother of the victim is largely blaming Harford County Child Protective Services.
Tammy Nobles is on a mission to effect change. On Tuesday, Nobles testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC, about her daughter, Kayla Hamilton’s, murder.
“(I came here today) to make sure that what happened to Kayla doesn’t happen to anyone else’s family,” said Nobles. “I want people to see her as a living person with hopes and dreams, and that they were taken from her.”
In July of 2022, the 20-year-old was killed by Walter Martinez who strangled her with a phone cord. He was also charged, but not convicted, of first-degree rape. In August, he was sentenced to 70 years in jail.
“After she was deceased, Martinez tied her up and sexually assaulted her,” Nobles explained to the Committee. “This is not a political issue. This is a safety issue for everyone here living in the United States.”
Nobles testimony centered on a recent Project Baltimore investigation which found Martinez, an MS-13 gang member illegally in the country, was allowed to enroll and attend a Maryland public school after police identified him as the primary murder suspect. And the school was not informed.
“This was also confirmed by their reporter with Fox 45 Project Baltimore, who got an actual confirmation from Edgewood High School,” stated Nobles before the Committee.
During her Congressional testimony, Nobles revealed additional details about how Martinez was able to enroll at Edgewood High School. Nobles explained under oath that, she believes, much of the fault lies with Harford County Child Protective Services – which took custody of Martinez as Aberdeen Police investigated Kayla’s murder.
“The Aberdeen Police Department asked CPS to put him in a secure location because of the crimes – being what he did. And they agreed to put him in a secure location,” said Nobles. “CPS did not let the Aberdeen Police Department know that they moved him from the group home to a foster home and enrolled him in high school.”
That is a powerful statement. Nobles is saying CPS knew Martinez was dangerous and they still enrolled him in a public school.
Project Baltimore contacted the Maryland Department of Human Services, which oversees CPS. They declined an interview but said in a statement, “We are unable to disclose information about child welfare cases. DHS uses all information provided and known to us to determine the most appropriate placement setting for any child under our care and supervision.”
In reading this statement, it appears CPS is saying, ‘the most appropriate placement’ for Martinez, an MS-13 gang member and murder suspect, was Edgewood High School.
“They put other children at risk,” Nobles told Project Baltimore, following her testimony. “They put adults at risk. Everyone that was in that school was a risk to end up just like Kayla Hamilton.”
Nobles is now calling for Maryland, and the entire country, to change laws concerning student safety.
“He should not have been in society at all. He should have been in a secure location where he had access to virtual school,” said Nobles.
Nobles believes if a school-aged person has been identified as a suspect in a felony, law enforcement should have the ability to prohibit that suspect from attending school in-person until the investigation is complete. Or, if that person does attend class, the school should be made aware of the alleged felony crimes.
On Wednesday, Project Baltimore sent an email to all 188 state lawmakers in Annapolis asking if they would “support one or both of these proposed changes in law.”
We also asked why, according to Nobles, it always, “seems to take a tragedy before action is taken to protect public school students?” And, if lawmakers believe Annapolis, “prioritizes protecting juvenile offenders over students in school?”
“Just because Kayla received justice doesn’t mean this stops with Kayla. I am going to continue sharing her story, continue fighting for, for changes at the federal and state level. So, I could help save other children’s lives. And to share what is actually happening,” concluded Nobles.
Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to [email protected]
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Publish date : 2024-09-12 11:38:00
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