Saturday, February 27, 2010

Grand Rapids, MI: Accused kidnapper says 2 year old is dead

Bob Brenzing Chris Fleszar
Updated:2/26/2010 11:48:40 PM - Posted: 2/26/2010 9:58:26 AM Comments (32) Recommend
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Grand Rapids, MI (WZZM) - Grand Rapids police are still not saying how they think 2 year old Jozlynn Martinez died but they say they are convinced it's true.

They say the man accused of kidnapping the child told them she is dead and what he did with the body.

"Suspect Jeffrey Malmberg has told investigators Jocelyn Marie Martinez died on Monday evening and he disposed of her body in a nearby trash receptacle," says Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk.

40 year old Malmberg disappeared with the 2 year old girl late Monday or early Tuesday. He shares a home on Nagold Street in Grand Rapids with the child's mother Consuela Martinez and the 7 month old son they had together.

Malmberg was captured Wednesday in Lansing but 2 year old Jozlynn was not with him.

But police aren't saying Malmberg admits he killed her.

"What I'm releasing right now is he's told us she died," says Chief Belk. "I'm not able to give details on how she died."

By the time police captured and questioned Malmberg the trash in the dumpster where he says he hid the body was collected and taken to the Kent County Waste To Energy Incinerator.

70 officers and a cadaver dog have searched but not found the body.

"Have searched through 200,000 pounds of trash," says Chief Belk. "Unfortunately we know some of the material was incinerated before our search began."

Malmberg and Consuela Martinez have lived together, off and on, for one and a half years.

But at one time she took out a personal protection order against him.

Just prior to the disappearance of her daughter she says she told Malmberg she wants him to move out.

"There are no charges against the mom," says Chief Belk. "They are not anticipated."

Malberg is charged with kidnapping 2 year old Jozlynn and stealing almost $3,000 dollars from Martinez.

Police say soon he may face additional charges.

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