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Borderland residents show their support for brutally slain Albuquerque girl


KFOX
KFOX
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Borderland residents are showing their support for Victoria Martens, the 10-year-old Albuquerque girl who was brutally slain this week.

Her mother, Michelle Martens, her mother's boyfriend, Fabian Gonzalez, and his cousin, Jessica Kelley, are accused of sexually assaulting Victoria, dismembering her and setting her remains on fire.

Although it happened in Albuquerque, details of the gruesome crime have resonated with residents in the Borderland.

Leslie Ochoa planned a memorial with her friend, Jessica Gomez.

“I have a baby girl and just the thought of anything happening to her, it’s hard for your own parents, your own mom to be able to do that and not feel any remorse. I think that’s wrong,” Ochoa said.

Together, they planned a balloon release and candlelight vigil to remember Victoria’s short life.

It was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, but it was rescheduled because of weather.

It is now scheduled to take place on Sunday at San Jacinto Plaza.

Through the memorial, Ochoa and Gomez hope to raise awareness for sexual assault and child abuse.

“It resonated big time with me because I’m a fellow survivor. So anyone that sees the story can see the struggle that [Victoria] went through,” Gomez said.

“As a community, we do have to be more aware. We have to see the small signs and start preventing things like this because it’s not the first time and it’s not the last,” Ochoa said.

They're also collecting donations to send to Victoria’s family during this difficult time.

“We're hoping it helps with the funeral, and also I heard that there was an 8-year-old little brother that was left behind, so we're hoping it'll help,” Ochoa said.

Another vigil in Martens' honor is set to take place in Las Cruces on Sunday.

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