PUEBLO, CO — A Pueblo man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2024 killing of 47-year-old Renee Marie Portillos, following a 14-day trial in the 10th Judicial District. Solomon Martinez, 33, was convicted on all charges, which include first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, and abuse of a corpse.
The case began in January 2024, when officers from the Pueblo Police Department responded to a report of a body found in Fountain Creek, located just south of Highway 47 on the north side of Pueblo. Upon arriving, authorities discovered the lifeless body of Portillos.
Martinez was arrested shortly after the discovery, with investigators linking him to the crime through a combination of phone records, location data, and autopsy results.
One of the most shocking pieces of evidence presented during the trial was that Martinez had the victim’s hand in his chest pocket when he was taken into custody. Authorities say this detail, along with other crucial evidence, left little doubt as to his involvement in Portillos’ death.
Testimony from witnesses further solidified Martinez’s role in the crime. According to an arrest affidavit, two witnesses came forward with damning accounts. One said Martinez had asked for help in disposing of a body, while another claimed to have seen him washing blood off his hands at a local car wash. Additionally, dried blood was found in Martinez’s vehicle, further implicating him.
Despite these revelations, Martinez initially denied killing Portillos, claiming he had merely picked her up and later dropped her off. He told police that his friend must have been responsible for the death after borrowing his car. However, the jury found his explanations unconvincing.
After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Martinez guilty on all charges. As a result, he will serve a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Pueblo County Coroner confirmed that Portillos died from homicidal violence, marking the case as one of the most disturbing in the area in recent memory. Martinez’s conviction brings some measure of justice for Portillos’ family, though the pain of their loss remains.
