A heartbreaking story has come out of Nevada, where a man was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison after committing an unimaginable crime. In October 2024, a jury found 37-year-old Clarence Martin Jr. guilty of killing his 7-week-old baby daughter, London, by throwing her off the second-floor balcony of his Las Vegas apartment in 2020. The case has left many shaken, including the judge who called it “the worst case I’ve ever seen.”
Back in October 2020, Martin’s behavior had reportedly spiraled out of control in the days leading up to the tragedy. He hadn’t eaten or slept for days, according to the baby’s mother, and his actions turned violent. While lying in bed, Martin started kicking both her and little London. Desperate to protect her baby, the mother tried to move to another room, but Martin grabbed the infant and threw her off the balcony.
The mother ran outside to the parking lot, where she found her baby and called 911 for help. But the horror didn’t end there. As she made the call, Martin set their living room on fire, which tragically killed the family’s pet poodle. Witnesses heard Martin shouting, “Burn, burn. This is what you get for cheating on me,” as he ran out of the apartment. He then got into his car and sped away just as Las Vegas police were arriving at the scene.
What followed was a wild police chase across the city. Martin caused three car crashes before ditching his car at McCarran International Airport (now Harry Reid International Airport). In a bizarre twist, he entered the airport, climbed onto a luggage conveyor belt, and ended up on the tarmac. That’s where police finally arrested him.
Martin was taken to a hospital to treat injuries from the crashes and underwent a drug evaluation. He was later charged with a long list of crimes, including open murder, animal cruelty, arson, and multiple counts of child abuse and battery related to his actions during the police chase.
During the trial, Martin’s defense attorney, Betsy Allen, explained that her client was suffering from a severe mental health crisis. She revealed that Martin had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and argued that he didn’t fully understand what was happening at the time of the crime. According to Allen, Martin thought he was in a movie and has little memory of what he did that night.
Despite the defense’s arguments, the court handed down a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 49 and a half years. This was the outcome prosecutors had requested. District Judge Carli Kierny expressed her shock at the brutality of the crime, saying, “It boggles my mind.”
In the courtroom during sentencing, London’s mother expressed a mix of emotions. Speaking about Martin, she said, “He just needs help.”
This case has left a deep scar on everyone involved and serves as a sobering reminder of how critical mental health awareness and support can be in preventing tragedies like this. The story of baby London has touched countless hearts, and many hope it brings attention to the importance of getting help for those in crisis before it’s too late.
