Loganville Stabbing Suspect Mom Won't Appear In Court This Week

LOGANVILLE, GA — A Loganville mother accused of murdering her husband and four of her children in a brutal stabbing won't appear in court Thursday as had been previously scheduled.

Robert Greenwald, the attorney for 33-year-old Isabel Martinez, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Martinez will waive her right to a preliminary hearing. Greenwald has previously said he plans to order a psychological evaluation for Martinez.

On Thursday, July 6, Gwinnett County Police received a 911 call at 4:47 a.m. from a woman at a home on Emory Lane in Loganville. Police say that woman was Martinez.

Police arrived at the family's mobile home to find a man and four children dead from stabbing wounds. Those victims are Martin Romero, 33, Isabela Martinez, 10, Dacota Romero, 7, Dillan Romero, 4 and Axel Romero, 2.

Loganville Family Stabbing: Five Things To Know

A fifth child, 9-year-old Diana Romero, also was stabbed in the attack. She continues to recover from her wounds and an online fundraiser has been established to help pay for her medical care and funeral expenses for the rest of the family.

Isabel Martinez is charged with five counts of murder, five counts of malice murder and six counts of aggravated assault in the stabbings. Authorities say she was in the United States illegally and she is also being held at Gwinnett County Jail for U.S. Immigration and Customs officials.

The day after the stabbings, Martinez made a bizarre first court appearance. In a jailhouse jumpsuit, she smiled broadly and repeatedly gave 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, told a judge that she didn't want an attorney, but was appointed one anyway.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department