Arizona Mother Pleads Guilty To Starving Son To Death

An Arizona mother has plead guilty to murder and child abuse charges in the death of her 6-year-old son.

Elizabeth Archibeque reached a plea agreement earlier this month after she was charged with locking her son in a closet and denying him food.

In March if 2020, the autopsy found the young boy, Deshaun Martinez, died of starvation. Reports state he weighed just 18 pounds, a weight that is well below average for his age.

Archibeque will receive her sentenced in the coming months. The terms of her plea agreement state she will not be eligible for probation, and if sentenced to life in prison, she will not be eligible for parole or any type of work release.

The boy’s father, Anthony Martinez was also charged, as well as his grandmother, Ann Martinez. All of the cases are being tried separately.

The child’s parents tried to explain to officials that their son’s malnourishment was due to a medical condition and to ingesting caffeine pills. However, they finally confessed to police they restrained Deshaun and his older brother in a closet for 16 hours a day and provided them with little to eat. The older brother survived. The boys’ imprisonment was punishment for stealing food while the parents slept.