MS-13 Gang Member Attended Maryland High School During Murder Investigation

Authorities failed to inform the school about Walter Martinez's suspect status, prompting calls for legislative changes.

Walter Martinez, an MS-13 gang member and murder suspect, attended Edgewood High School in Maryland without the school's knowledge of his criminal background.
Martinez, who entered the U.S. illegally as an unaccompanied minor, was the primary suspect in the July 2022 murder of Kayla Hamilton.
Despite being under investigation, Martinez was allowed to enroll in school as Maryland laws did not require authorities to inform the school about his suspect status.
Kayla Hamilton's mother, Tammy Nobles, is calling for changes to laws to prevent similar situations in the future, advocating for virtual schooling for suspects of serious crimes.
Martinez was eventually arrested in January 2023 after DNA results confirmed his involvement in the murder and was sentenced to 70 years in prison in August 2024.