Jozlynn Mari Martinez Never Found -- Jeffrey Malmberg Convicted Of Second-Degree Murder

An amber alert has been issued for Jozlynn Mari Martinez.



Missing Child
Name: Jozlynn Mari Martinez
Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown
Skin Color: Hispanic Age: 2
Height: 2 FT 9 Weight: 22 LBS
Gender: Female
Description: Scab on her chin, spot on right side of her head that doesn't grow hair, walks with her feet turned inward



Suspect
Name: Jeffery Lynn Malmbert
Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown
Skin Color: White Age: 40
Height: 5 FT 11 Weight: 170 LBS
Gender: Male
Description: Tattoo of a red rose on top of his left forearm, tattoo on his right forearm, last seen wearing a blue GVSU hoody, gray/white/black winter coat, gray/blue pants

Updated: Amber Alert issued in Grand Rapids

February 24, 2010 3:00 PM



GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Police in Grand Rapids are looking for a missing child believed to be in danger.

On Wednesday evening, police have located the suspected abductor, but the child is still missing.

Police say Jozlynn Mari Martinez was last seen in bed on Monday night at 11:00 pm. When the child's mother awoke at 9:00 am Tuesday, the child and her live-in boyfriend, Jeffrey Malmberg, were gone. Police say Malmberg did not take appropriate clothing for the child, but did take $2,800 in cash from the mother's purse.

The child's mother, Consuela Martinez, says that at first she thought Malmberg, who in the past has taken in the child for a few hours in the morning, was running errands and would be returning. Martinez checked throughout the day with family and friends but was unable to locate Malmberg or Jazlynn.

The missing child, Jozlynn Mari Martinez, is a two-year-old girl, described as standing 2 ' 9” tall, weighing 22 pounds with brown eyes, brown hair, with a scab on her chin and a spot on the right side of her head that doesn't grow hair. Martinez is said to walk with her feet turned inward.

The suspect, Jeffery Lynn Malmberg, is a 40-year-old white male. He is described as standing 5' 11”, weighing 170 pounds with brown eyes, black hair, a tattoo of a red rose on the top of his left forearm, and a tattoo on his right forearm. Malmberg was last seen wearing a blue GVSU hooded sweatshirt, and a gray/white/black winter coat.

The Kent County Prosecutor's Office has authorized a warrant charging Malmberg with one count of kidnapping and one count of larceny.

Newschannel 3 has learned that Malmberg has a long criminal history, including numerous arrests for drugs, as well as several domestic violence charges, which is part of what has police concerned.

As of 7:00 pm Wednesday, police say they have located Malmberg, who is currently being held by Lansing Police, but they have not yet located the missing girl. The search for her continues.

Anyone with information about the alleged victim or abductor is asked to immediately call 911 or contact the Grand Rapids Police Department at 616-456-3604.

Stay with Newschannel 3 for the latest in this developing story.

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1373056-bottom-grand.html

Jeffery Malmberg in custody; Jozlynn Martinez still missing, Amber Alert still active

Bob Brenzing, Jeff Quackenbush, Jessica Puchala
Updated:2/25/2010 3:44:44 PM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The man suspected of kidnapping a Grand Rapids girl has been taken into custody in Lansing, but police still don't know where the girl is.

Michigan State Police located 40-year-old Jeffery Malmberg of Grand Rapids in Lansing. An Amber Alert was issued for Malmberg after his girlfriend, Consuela Martinez told police he took her two year old daughter, Jozlynn Martinez.

Martinez was not with Malmberg when he was spotted in Lansing, and an Amber Alert is still active for the two year old. Jozlynn Martinez is 2 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 22 pounds and has brown eyes, brown hair and a scab on her chin.

In Grand Rapids Family Court this afternoon, a second child in the home of Consuela Martinez was taken into custody by Child Protective Services. The court said that since the conditions of Jozlynn's disappearance are unclear, this was a precaution.

Anyone with information on Martinez's location should call Grand Rapids Police at 911 or (616) 456-3604.

Martinez says she last saw her two year old daughter Jozlynn when she tucked her into bed Monday night at 11:00p.m., and told her, she loved her.

Malmberg often cares for Jozlynn and takes her places, so Martinez wasn't alarmed initially when the two were not in the apartment when she woke up at 9:00a.m. Tuesday.

"He left the house key and the doors downstairs unlocked," Martinez said.

Martinez waited several hours and then noticed her income tax return of $2800 was missing from her purse, so she called police.

"There is no past history of this," said Grand Rapids Police Sergeant Mark Mathis.

Sergeant Mathis arrived at Martinez' Northwest side home in the 900 block of Nagold Street Wednesday evening. Mathis, along with two other Grand Rapids Police investigators were re-checking the apartment and going over facts with Martinez when they were informed Malmberg was arrested in Lansing and en-route to Grand Rapids.

"We're still checking some other things to see if perhaps he dropped the child off or if the child is somewhere else," Sergeant Mathis said.

Martinez said she was felt some relief when police told her they found Malmberg, but that quickly changed when she was informed her daughter was not with him.

"He would normally never trust anyone with Jozlynn," said Martinez.

Martinez says Malmberg has history of drug abuse. Martinez says she filed a Personal Protection Order against Malmberg because he threatened to kill her while she was pregnant with her second child. Martinez says she later withdrew the order.

The night before Jozlynn was taken, Martinez says she briefly argued with Malmberg about money. Martinez says it makes sense if Malmberg stole her cash, but she doesn't now why he would take her daughter, and leave his biological 7 month old son.

"I know all his friends are from Big Rapids, Remus, but nobody in Lansing," said Martinez.

Martinez hopes Malmberg's arrest lead to her daughter's safe return.

"Anybody could have gotten to her and hurt her. I hope she knows that I love her," Martinez said.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=118866&catid=14

This is another mom who chose to keep her abusive drug addict BF in her home. Now she says she hopes that her two-year old missing daughter knows that she loves her.
Sure, but not enough to keep her safe in her own home.
This kind of situation keeps repeating all over the U.S. Mothers who endanger the lives of their childrens by associating with or living with scum.
The scum left their 7 month-old son, but the woman wonders why he didn't take his son rather than her daughter? Wake up, now you have no kids to worry about, since CPS took the baby away.
That was a big tax return, was the scum even employed or did this woman allow him to live off of her income, and possibly some welfare funds.

What a shame. I totally agree, Cali. This is repeated over and over and over again. These women choosing the POS BF's over their child's safety. Then keep having more babies.
It doesn't surprise me he took the money and ran. I'm sure her refund was generous because of the Earned Income Credit and claiming Head of Household, meaning single with dependents. When all along a grown man, most likely not working, living in the house. I'm not implying anything is wrong with the tax credits, it is a godsend to working single mothers. It's the worthless POS they support with tax payer's money.

But what's fishy is why take Jozlynn? What drug user would want to be saddled with a 2 yr old if you've got $2,800 cash to go party on? I would think they should be checking the dumpsters and landfill. This sadly sounds like a familiar story. He was running, IMO. I certainly hope it turns out differently and Jozlynn is found, it doesn't look good though. What a pretty little angel she is.

There have been commercials airing in my area, targeting young single mothers to "Choose Your Partner Carefully - Your Child's Life Depends On It". It is from Hamilton County Family Services. It could be a great tool, but unfortunately I don't know if the young mothers would listen. The POS boyfriends always seem to take precedence over the safety of their children. I was glad to see the commercials, you never know, even if only a few mothers take heed and listen. It could potentially save the life or prevent the abuse of more children.