A man from Colorado has been convicted of murdering a woman after police found her severed hand in his jacket pocket. Solomon Martinez, 27, was found guilty of first-degree murder and other crimes related to the death of 47-year-old Renee Portillos. Her remains were discovered near a creek in Pueblo in January 2024, as confirmed by the Pueblo County 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office on March 13.
The trial lasted 14 days, during which prosecutors presented strong evidence against Martinez. This included testimonies, phone records, location data, and autopsy findings that all pointed to his involvement in the crime.
Portillos’ dismembered body was located on January 10, 2024, after a roommate of Martinez alerted the authorities. Upon his arrest, police retrieved a human hand inside a plastic bag from Martinez’s jacket. When questioned, he stated that the hand had been in his pocket for two days.
Further investigation revealed Portillos’ DNA in Martinez’s vehicle, and DNA evidence was also found on a condom connected to both Martinez and Portillos. In audio calls made from jail, Martinez reportedly confessed to the murder to his mother.
His defense team claimed that Portillos had accidentally shot herself while under the influence of fentanyl. However, the jury found him guilty, and Martinez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Portillos’ sister, Cathy Peralta, expressed her feelings on the verdict, calling Martinez “an evil man” and stating, “It’s bittersweet, we can’t get her back. But we finally got justice.” She added that now her sister can finally rest.
