Bio

Martin Robles was born on May 12, 1978, in Nueces County, Texas. Robles dropped out of school after completing the eighth grade. During his youth, he became involved in gang activity, particularly with a gang known as Raza Unida or "RU." This involvement began at a young age as he sought acceptance and belonging.

By age ten, Robles had started using substances like marijuana and inhalants. As he entered his teenage years, his drug use escalated to harder substances like acid and cocaine. At fourteen, he officially joined a gang, engaging in illegal activities like drug running and carjacking.

Robles had a history of trouble with the law. By the time he was seventeen, he was convicted of murder in a separate incident, which led to a six-year prison sentence. After serving his time, he was released but struggled to adapt to life outside of prison.

His criminal behavior continued after his release, marked by further disciplinary issues while incarcerated and a consistent path of violence. Robles had multiple arrests throughout his teenage years, leading to an extensive juvenile record.

Murder Story

On November 12, 2002, Martin Robles and his accomplice Joe "Magic" Padron entered a house in Corpus Christi, Texas. Inside were two young men, John Commisky and Jesus Gonzalez, both asleep. Robles and Padron were affiliated with rival gangs and had conflicts with their victims.

They wore dark clothing and masks as they approached the house. Once inside, they used guns to shoot both victims multiple times. Autopsy reports later revealed that Gonzalez had been shot at least fifteen times, with many shots to his head. Commisky was shot at least fourteen times, primarily in the back. The shootings occurred from a close range, no more than two-and-a-half feet away.

A third occupant, Tony Ortiz, was also in the house at the time. He escaped the attack and ran to alert authorities. After the shootings, Ortiz saw Robles and Padron leave the house and get into a maroon Chevrolet Trail Blazer. He identified them to the police, which led to their arrest.

Martin Robles was charged and found guilty of capital murder. He had a lengthy criminal history, including a prior conviction for murder when he was a teenager. On September 23, 2003, he was sentenced to death for the killings. Robles was executed by lethal injection in Texas on August 10, 2011. At the time of his execution, he had exhausted all legal appeals and did not request a final meal. His last words were, "I love you, Israel."