MS-13 gang member, illegal immigrant allowed to enroll in Maryland high school while facing charges for murder of 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton: report

Walter Martinez was charged and convicted of killing Kayla Hamilton on July 27, 2022. While awaiting trial, he was allowed to attend school, Fox 45 reported. “When I start from the very beginning and get to the very end, they’re like, ‘wow, that is a really crazy story,’” The victim's mother, Tammy Nobles, told the station’s Project Baltimore, “And I say, ‘it is a crazy story. But it’s a true story.’ It’s the worst pain that a parent can ever get.”

Martinez was then a 16-year-old illegal immigrant, and an MS-13 gang member. He was convicted of brutally slaying Hamilton and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. “She was just found with a cord wrapped around her neck and her mouth. Then just left her on the floor, like trash,” Nobles said.

Martinez was always the prime suspect, but it took police six months to process his DNA results and link that to the crime scene. During that time, Martinez was going to Edgewood High School in Harford County.

Reporter Chris Papst posted: ”Fox45 can confirm the school was NOT told by any investigating agency that Martinez was an MS-13 gang member and murder suspect. He was allowed to enter the school with 1,400 other students. NO ONE at the school knew. “

“While awaiting trial, Martinez admitted to four murders and two rapes. Local prosecutors believe the other murders happened in his home country of El Salvador.”

Martinez was pegged as the likely culprit from the day that Hamilton was found dead. Aberdeen police detained the suspect and questioned him, the outlet reported. The cops had surveillance video of Martinez at the scene of the crime. The police even read the chief suspect his Miranda Rights.

“They knew he was guilty. They just needed that DNA to really lock it in,” stated Nobles.

When the police sent out Martinez’s DNA, it took six months to process. Project Baltimore confirmed that after Kayla was murdered, and while police were waiting for the DNA results, Martinez was allowed to enroll as a student and was attending.

“It makes me angry,” Nobles told Project Baltimore. “You're sitting there putting this monster into high school with other people's children, and you're putting children at risk. Look what he did to Kayla.”

Martinez reportedly entered the US illegally via Texas as an unaccompanied minor in March 2022. Although detained by the US Customs and Border Patrol, he was allowed to travel to Maryland and live with a “sponsor.” By July 2022, Martinez was living in a trailer in Aberdeen. As the chief suspect in Hamilton’s murder, Martinez was put into foster care with Child and Protective Services.

After the DNA results came back in January 2023, Martinez was arrested. He pleaded guilty in August 2024. “Why did you put him in a public school? I want to know why,” said Nobles. “Somebody needs to be held accountable.”

MS-13 gangs continue to pose a threat to Americans. New York City police are concerned that MS-13 recruits in that city will join forces with Tren de Aragua.