Guard was slain over man's 'shameful secret'
By Sue Lindsay, News Staff Writer
June 20, 2002
Michael Nunez killed Corina Martinez because she discovered a "shameful secret" he had kept for a decade: He liked to wear women's lingerie.
Nunez, 30, is on trial in Denver District Court on a charge of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Martinez, 59, a security guard at the 16th Street Mall food court where Nunez worked at the Subway sandwich shop.
Nunez stabbed Martinez 40 times Dec. 9, 2000, and then stuffed her body into a dumpster.
"Michael Nunez had a secret he kept for 10 years, a secret that sent Corina Martinez to her death," said prosecutor Katie O'Brien. "Corina Martinez paid with her life for his secret."
Nunez wept and covered his eyes with his hands during opening statements Wednesday as his habit of wearing women's lingerie was detailed.
Public defender Carrie Thompson said Nunez admits responsibility but should be convicted of second-degree murder because he killed Martinez in a "hasty, impulsive act" after she discovered his "shameful secret."
Nunez confessed to police, saying he killed Martinez "to keep her shut."
"She didn't do nothing to me, but I did it to her," he told police. "I had to, yeah, so she wouldn't say anything."
Martinez found Nunez in a back room by the food court as he removed women's lingerie that he wore to work under his regular clothing. Nunez wore women's panties, pantyhose, a burgundy camisole and slip, and a white nightgown with spaghetti straps.
O'Brien called the killing cold-blooded murder. Nunez stabbed Martinez so viciously that he broke her rib, fractured her skull and severed her carotid artery. He disposed of her body and cleaned up the blood. Then he went to work at the shop, "making sandwiches and waiting on the public," O'Brien said.
Thompson said Nunez lived a bizarre, isolated life. When he wasn't at work, he spent almost all of his time in his bedroom, she said. His fetish for women's underwear gave him comfort, she said, but it was a secret he knew must be kept hidden.
"This pathetic, troubled young man's secret was exposed and he panicked," Thompson said.
Food court worker Marco Castro said he saw Nunez early that morning with blood on his face, but Nunez dismissed it, telling him it was just tomato sauce.
By Sue Lindsay, News Staff Writer
June 20, 2002
Michael Nunez killed Corina Martinez because she discovered a "shameful secret" he had kept for a decade: He liked to wear women's lingerie.
Nunez, 30, is on trial in Denver District Court on a charge of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Martinez, 59, a security guard at the 16th Street Mall food court where Nunez worked at the Subway sandwich shop.
Nunez stabbed Martinez 40 times Dec. 9, 2000, and then stuffed her body into a dumpster.
"Michael Nunez had a secret he kept for 10 years, a secret that sent Corina Martinez to her death," said prosecutor Katie O'Brien. "Corina Martinez paid with her life for his secret."
Nunez wept and covered his eyes with his hands during opening statements Wednesday as his habit of wearing women's lingerie was detailed.
Public defender Carrie Thompson said Nunez admits responsibility but should be convicted of second-degree murder because he killed Martinez in a "hasty, impulsive act" after she discovered his "shameful secret."
Nunez confessed to police, saying he killed Martinez "to keep her shut."
"She didn't do nothing to me, but I did it to her," he told police. "I had to, yeah, so she wouldn't say anything."
Martinez found Nunez in a back room by the food court as he removed women's lingerie that he wore to work under his regular clothing. Nunez wore women's panties, pantyhose, a burgundy camisole and slip, and a white nightgown with spaghetti straps.
O'Brien called the killing cold-blooded murder. Nunez stabbed Martinez so viciously that he broke her rib, fractured her skull and severed her carotid artery. He disposed of her body and cleaned up the blood. Then he went to work at the shop, "making sandwiches and waiting on the public," O'Brien said.
Thompson said Nunez lived a bizarre, isolated life. When he wasn't at work, he spent almost all of his time in his bedroom, she said. His fetish for women's underwear gave him comfort, she said, but it was a secret he knew must be kept hidden.
"This pathetic, troubled young man's secret was exposed and he panicked," Thompson said.
Food court worker Marco Castro said he saw Nunez early that morning with blood on his face, but Nunez dismissed it, telling him it was just tomato sauce.
