TEMPE – A man is in custody after admitting to killing his ex-girlfriend and leaving her in a car with her young daughter.
Tempe police arrested Victor A. Martinez, Jr. on Tuesday at about 4 a.m. for the murder of 23-year-old Christina Hallman.
Police say Hallman and Martinez had dated for about three months but had recently broken up.
Hallman was planning to pick up some of her things from Martinez’s home on Sunday at about 3 p.m. Her family became worried and called police to report her missing after they could not make contact with her following that meeting. Hallman was entered into the police computer system as a missing person.
Employees of a Tempe business located in the 6700 block of S. Harl Avenue found Hallman dead from an apparent gunshot wound inside her car in the parking lot at 8 a.m. on Monday as they arrived for work.
Also in the car was Hallman’s 2-year-old daughter, who was not harmed and turned over to family members.
Martinez reportedly admitted to shooting Hallman and, based on his statements, was taken into custody for Hallman’s murder. He faces second-degree murder.
Funeral services for Hallman have been finalized. The viewing is Friday, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E. Southern Ave., and the funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the same location.
An account has been set up at Chase Bank. Donations can be made to account number 2943315883.
