Katrina Sudberry left her 5-year-old son alone with Gregory Glenn Martin for just 45 minutes on July 16. When she returned to their Newport News, Virginia apartment, the belt they used to discipline the boy had its buckle broken off. The child would be dead by that evening, his body bearing what authorities described as "catastrophic" injuries spanning nearly every part of his small frame.
Background
The investigation began that same afternoon when officers with the Newport News Police Department responded to a residence on Walden Pond Court in response to an unresponsive 5-year-old boy. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures and rushed the child to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by WVEC-TV, Sudberry, the child's mother, admitted to investigators that she had been physically punishing her son in the days leading up to his death. The woman acknowledged using her hands and a belt to discipline the boy, while also forcing him into exercises including push-ups and wall squats.
Court documents recently made public offer disturbing insight into the adults' treatment of the child. Text message exchanges between Sudberry and Martin, obtained by WTKR and WAVY television stations, reveal discussions about the boy's punishment and bruising.
"He got more bruises we tryna get rid of the other ones," Sudberry allegedly messaged Martin in one exchange.
The man allegedly replied: "we needa make an agreement either u gone let me whoop him or not."
As authorities began looking into the case, investigators said Sudberry confronted Martin about the abuse, sending along pictures of the boy's injuries. It was then that Martin appeared to back away from further violence.
"OK, I won't whoop him no more then," Martin allegedly responded. "Trina, I'm not gone whoop him again das on my life I won't ima leave you to that you I'll keep it strictly to workouts but he not scared of the workouts."
The Charges
Following an autopsy conducted by the Office of the Medical Examiner, authorities determined the boy died from internal injuries suffered as a result of blunt force trauma. The examination revealed injuries to the child's liver, stomach, and intestines, along with extensive external injuries described as catastrophic.
Sudberry, 27, was arrested the day after her son's death and faces charges of murder in the second degree and felony child abuse. She is currently pregnant with Martin's child and is being held at the Newport News Jail.
Martin, 30, was taken into custody this week and charged with second-degree murder, child abuse or neglect causing serious injury, and failure to provide accurate information on the sex offender registry, according to police announcements. He also remains detained in the Newport News Jail.
Investigators noted that when Sudberry returned home on July 16 to find the damaged belt, she told investigators she did not immediately call 911 because she "knew how it would look."
Key Takeaways
- The 5-year-old boy died on July 16 after suffering blunt force trauma and internal injuries to his liver, stomach, and intestines, per the medical examiner's autopsy findings
- His mother, Katrina Sudberry, admitted to disciplining him with her hands and a belt in the days before his death, police said
- Text messages between Sudberry and Martin show the couple discussing ways to hide the boy's bruises and debating whether Martin would be allowed to continue physically punishing the child
- The boy was left alone with Martin for approximately 45 minutes on the morning of July 16; when Sudberry returned, the belt's buckle had broken off
- Both suspects are being held without bond in the Newport News Jail pending prosecution
What's Next
Both Sudberry and Martin are scheduled to appear in court on September 9. The case remains under investigation by the Newport News Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division. Authorities have not released the name of the child, citing his status as a minor.