Kidnapped Chattanooga toddler found safe; grandmother's boyfriend charged

May 24, 2019 at 5:33 p.m. | Updated May 24, 2019 at 5:35 p.m.

by Staff Report

Matias Martinez
Matias Martinez
photo Matias Martinez

It's still not clear why Matias Martinez, the suspect in a toddler's alleged kidnapping, took the child. But court records shed more light on his connection to the girl.

Two-year-old Octavia Fiya Shaw went missing after authorities say Martinez, 37, fled with the child during a traffic stop Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Dayton Pike and Boy Scout Road in Hixson.

During the search, the child's mother, Ava Cole, arrived at the scene and "was very upset that Mr. Martinez took off with her child," according to Hamilton County Court records.

She told deputies that Martinez was her mother, Patricia Turner's, boyfriend, and Turner had been watching the child for a short time. But Martinez did not have permission to take the toddler.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office spokesman Matt Lea said no additional details as to Martinez's motivation can be released.

THE INCIDENT

Hamilton County sheriff's deputies stopped the vehicle Martinez was driving in the 600 block of Boy Scout Road at around 3:45 p.m. for an "equipment violation," something for which he was given a warning.

photo Octavia Fiya Shaw
photo Matias Martinez
photo Matias Martinez

As he was signing the written warning, deputies found that the passenger, Patricia Turner, had open warrants in Collegedale. And when deputies asked her to step out of the vehicle, they found a glass smoking pipe in her waist.

That is when deputies asked Martinez to get the toddler out of the vehicle so they could conduct a search of the vehicle. Martinez did so and then asked if he could sit in some shade on the Clayton Homes property. Deputies agreed he could.

At around 4:20 p.m., deputies noted they "broke visual contact with Mr. Martinez" as they spoke to Turner and searched the vehicle.

During the search, they found a loaded revolver and a bag of methamphetamine in Turner's pocket.

Around the same time, deputies looked back over to where Martinez was last seen but could no longer see him. So they went over to the property management office and asked employees if they'd seen Martinez.

Employees told deputies that Martinez and the child did go into the business, and employees gave them water to drink. But when deputies approached the office, Martinez "ran out the back door with the child."

Deputies checked the open trailers that were being built on the property. One deputy found Martinez's shoes in the woodline behind the parking lot.

Investigators brought in K9 units and drones to aid in the search, but with no luck.

That is when the mother arrived at the scene.

Martinez was found with the toddler at 6:50 a.m. at the intersection of Boy Scout Road and Moses Road. A nearby resident reported spotting him.

The child was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for assessment, and Martinez was taken into custody.

He is charged with especially aggravated kidnapping. His bond was set at $150,000.

When he was detained, Martinez was found with a bicycle. Anyone missing a bicycle in that area is asked to call the sheriff's office.

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