Topless Maid Guilty of Murdering Retired Police Officer

A Los Angeles woman convicted of murdering a retired Redondo Beach police officer who had hired her as a topless maid and masseuse has been sentenced to 35 years to life in state prison, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Centia Renee Martin, 36, was immediately sentenced after being convicted Wednesday of the first-degree murder of Robert Crigler, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The 74-year-old retired officer had hired the woman on Jan. 10, according to evidence presented at Martin’s trial, in which she represented herself.

Crigler’s body was discovered Jan. 13 at his converted apartment in Inglewood, according to Deputy District Attorney Steven Gates.

The prosecutor said the evidence showed that Martin nearly decapitated Crigler with a knife and repeatedly bashed him in the head with a shotgun in an attack on or between Jan. 10 and Jan. 13 that left the weapon broken.

Video surveillance footage and forensic evidence tied Martin to the crime, according to evidence presented during Martin’s trial.

Martin was arrested Jan. 20 by Inglewood police and has remained behind bars since then.

City News Service