Fundraiser For Loganville Stabbing Victims Launched

LOGANVILLE, GA — A fundraising effort has been launched to pay for the funerals of a Loganville man and four young children stabbed to death early Thursday, and medical care for the 9-year-old lone survivor of the attack — which police say was by the victims' wife and mother.

Isabel Martinez, 33, is in the Gwinnett County Jail, charged with multiple counts of murder and aggravated assault and on hold for federal immigration officials.

Those killed in the early-morning stabbings — which Martinez, herself, called 911 to report — were listed by the Gwinnett County Police Department as:

• Martin Romero, 33
• Isabela Martinez, 10
• Dacota Romero, 7
• Dillan Romero, 4
• Axel Romero, 2

Nine-year-old Diana Romero also was brutally attacked in the stabbing. She was in serious, but stable, condition Thursday night at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, according to police.

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"We continue to pray for Diana’s recovery both physically and emotionally as she learns about what happened to her father and siblings," Gwinnett County Police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said.

On charity fundraising website GoFundMe, a family member has created a campaign to raise money for the family's funeral costs and Diana Romero's medical care. By 10 a.m. Friday, the campaign had raised about $13,000 of its $50,000 goal.

"God Bless, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any and all help," wrote Hallie Romero, the campaign's creator, who said Martin Romero was her husband's cousin.

She wrote late Thursday that Diana has undergone surgery to repair the damage from multiple stab wounds and is expected to remain in the hospital for two or three weeks before starting physical therapy and rehab.

Pihera said Martinez has been cooperative with investigators, but that police are not releasing a motive in the stabbings at this time.

Making her first court appearance Friday morning, Martinez exhibited what many are calling bizarre behavior.

Video from WSB-TV shows her in a jailhouse jumpsuit, smiling broadly and repeatedly giving a two-handed "thumbs up" sign to news cameras.

She made a hand gesture that looked like prayer several times and, at one point, dropped to her knees as if praying before being told by a sheriff's deputy to return to her seat.

With the help of a translator, she appeared to tell a judge she wants to represent herself in court, saying her "attorney is the people we are fighting for."

Gwinnett County Police say they were called at 4:47 a.m. Thursday by Martinez from the family's home on Emory Lane in Loganville.

Police arrived to find the victims apparently stabbed and Martinez was taken to Gwinnett County Police headquarters for questioning.

A neighbor, 15-year-old Pedro Ramirez, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Martinez had been suffering with mental issues and was upset recently because her father died three weeks ago.

He told the paper that he knew some of the children through his sister, who was friends with them, and that they would ride their bikes and play in the neighborhood. He said the family had just moved to Loganville a few months ago.

Martinez is charged with five counts of murder, five counts of malice murder and six counts of aggravated assault in the stabbings.

"What prompts a person to take the life of such innocent children and her spouse is something we may never understand," Pihera said in a written statement. "This is a horrendous crime not only for the victims but for the extended family, neighborhood and community. We are hoping and praying that the remaining victim survives his/her injuries and makes a full recovery."

Family photo via GoFundMe. Other photos courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department.