April 9, 2015 at 3:52 p.m.
Martinson waives extradition in double homicide case
Martinson waives extradition in double homicide case
Martinson, 17, was in court this afternoon in Boone County, Indiana, where she was arrested March 8. She is the sole suspect in the killings of Thomas and Jennifer Ayers at their rural home in Piehl, in eastern Oneida County. Investigators believe Martinson shot Thomas Ayers and stabbed Jennifer Ayers March 7.
Martinson had initially declined to waive extradition, triggering the formal extradition process in which Gov. Scott Walker had to request Martinson's return from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. A hearing had been scheduled for next week in those proceedings.
But on Thursday, at a hearing lasting approximately 15 minutes, Martinson chose to voluntarily return to Wisconsin. It is not clear why or how that decision was made; The River News was unable to reach her defense attorney in Indiana or the prosecutor there.
According to an order of extradition filed today, Martinson indicated a desire to waive her extradition rights under oath. She also signed a written waiver.
Boone County Circuit Judge J. Jeffrey Edens ordered the Boone County sheriff's office to hold Martinson without bail for up to 30 days so Wisconsin authorities can pick her up.
Oneida County Sheriff's Captain Terri Hook said Thursday afternoon that details about Martinson's return to Wisconsin would not be made public for safety reasons.
According to court records, Martinson was scheduled to undergo a professional evaluation on Tuesday and Wednesday by someone who traveled from Milwaukee (see related story below). Martinson's lawyer in Indiana wrote that the evaluation needed "to be done quickly."
A separate defense lawyer for Martinson, based in Wisconsin, had scheduled the professional evaluation.
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