Chips, salsa . . . and murder

Woman behind firefighter hit man plot is a gushing mommy blogger: Raved abouthusband target online

Brittany Martinez has been accused of hiring a restaurant manager to murder herhusband.
The restaurant? Casa Ole, the purveyor of quality, authentic Tex-Mex cuisine.

In what is likely to become the city's next "real crime" movie, a Houston woman was allegedly recently caught in the act of murder-for-hire.

That woman, 24-year-old Brittany Rachelle Martinez, is an EMT, mom and sometimes mommy blogger. In spite of vague complaints about lack of adult interaction, she comes across in writing as your typical young mom, busy with house decorating and child-rearing (she has two; a third passed away just two months after birth in 2009). She even gushed about her husband, Houston firefighter Adrian Ray Martinez, on Feb. 21:

In the overall plan of the year, Adrian and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary this coming October, for which we will be throwing a formal party/vow renewal. We will be able to have the wedding we didn't get to have and say our vows again, this time truly understanding what those words mean. I have picked out the dress, we decided on the venue and the rest is a simple case of creativity and saving. Eeek, I'm so excited! :)

Meanwhile, Brittany Martinez was plotting, according to the police. She offered a friend — the manager of a Casa Ole restaurant in northwest Houston — something between $1,500 and $2,500 to get someone to kill her husband.

As the official criminal complaint details, Brittany Martinez first approached the restaurant manager on Jan. 17 and later dropped off a $500 down payment on Feb. 4.

The desperate wife returned to the restaurant with a copy of her husband's work schedule (with dates March 3 and March 5 circled) and a physical description of the soon-to-be victim, along with another $500 in cash, with instructions that her husband be offed before he could notice the discrepancy in their bank account. According to the Houston Chronicle, she wanted the murder to "look work related."

The manager told Brittany Martinez that he could not do the deed himself, but would hire a hit man.

The compliant describes a subsequent phone conversation, when the

DEFENDANT TOLD THE WITNESS THAT THE PERSON COMMITTING THE MURDER SHOULD PARK ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY, AND SHOULD COMMIT THE MURDER IN THE BACK PARKING LOT OF THE WORK OF HER HUSBAND. THE DEFENDANT TOLD THE WITNESS THAT SHE DID NOT CARE WHAT TYPE OF WEAPON WAS TO BE USE, SHE JUST WANTED THE JOB DONE. THE DEFENDANT TOLD THE WITNESS NOT TO CONTACT HER AFTER THE MURDER, SHE WOULD CONTACT HIM. [sic]"

The manager (who claims to know Brittany Martinez "by name and sight" because her family frequents his restaurant) recorded all of this, and then turned her into the authorities.

Brittany Martinez was arrested on Tuesday, and remains in jail without bond for the solicitation of capital murder.

Her lawyer tells KTRK Ch. 13's Demond Fernandez that Martinez was "sad and scared to death" when she appeared before a judge on Thursday morning. If convicted, Brittany Martinez could face life in prison.

unspecified

preserve Houston's history

Preservationists stage last-ditch attempt to save historic Houston theatre

Courtesy of Arthouse Houston

Community members rally to preserve the Garden Oaks Theatre.

Houstonians residing in the Heights, Garden Oaks, and far beyond were thrown into a tizzy last week by the abrupt news that the Garden Oaks Theater had been purchased by commercial developers in a $7.1 million, off-market deal.

Within a matter of days, demolition permits were granted, sewer lines disconnected from the city, and — as of Monday night — construction fencing was placed around the property. Both Preservation Houston and Arthouse Houston, an offshoot of the Friends of River Oaks Theatre, have voiced concerns over the apparent plans to raze the Art Deco building before the community has had time to react to the news.

Built in 1947, the Garden Oaks Theater is one of several post-war Houston theaters designed for the Interstate Circuit by H.F. Pettigrew and John A. Worley of the Dallas firm Pettigrew & Worley, alongside its sister cinema, the River Oaks Theatre. It is a classic example of streamlined Art Deco design — an architectural gem that connects Houston’s everyday streetscape to its cinematic past.

Arthouse Houston has been sitting on preservation plans for the theater for years, waiting for it to be sold by the church that had owned and utilized the building since the 1990s. The 700-plus seat theater, along with its stage, has retained its original architectural details and features throughout the years, save for a short stage extension project carried out by the church.

Developers have not responded to proposals by Arthouse Houston to either buy or lease the movie theater to return it to its original use while simultaneously operating as a community arts center and much needed “third place.”

According to State of Texas records, parties involved include the Heights Equity Trust, Sage Equity Partners, and Heights Investment Fund, LLC. None of these entities have responded to CultureMap’s request for comment about their plans for the property.

Jim Parsons, programs and communications director for Preservation Houston, issued this statement to CultureMap:

“The Garden Oaks Theater and buildings like it give the city a sense of identity. People don't just recognize these places, they remember them. Houston is always changing, but when we treat historic architecture as disposable, we risk losing the landmarks that anchor neighborhoods and give them character.”

Maureen McNamara, Arthouse Houston’s co-founder and director, is hoping that developers took note of the “save the theater” rally that took place at the theater on Sunday, February 15, and may have a change of heart. Coverage of the rally by ABC13 was widely circulated on social media, so it’s unlikely that the developers are unaware of the public outcry to save the theater — and is what likely led to fencing going up only a day later.

“We feel like we’re pretty well poised to step in and help investors to incorporate the theater into a larger project, and the first step is to make sure that we win them over,” McNamara tells CultureMap. “Part of winning them over is making sure they know how much the community cares, and seeing how beautiful and dynamic restoring our historical buildings and theaters can be.”

The restoration of River Oaks Theatre and the attention that project has brought to the area is something McNamara is confident she can replicate.

“There are nonprofit organizations all over the US saving and running historic theaters as community arts centers, and arts and film centers — there are models for this. Austin just did a big push with the Paramount Theatre,” says McNamara. “I’d like for it [Garden Oaks Theater] to exist for its original purpose — at least in part, as a movie theater — with some live theater components as well.”

A petition on change.org has already garnered more than 1,000 signatures. In addition, Arthouse Houston will attend a Houston City Council meeting on Wednesday, February 18, at 9 am to discuss what there is to be done about this situation. McNamara encourages people to join them.

“We would love any help we can get getting people there, signing up to speak if possible — it would be great to have a crowd there.”

Courtesy of Arthouse Houston

Community members rally to preserve the Garden Oaks Theatre.

preservation preservation houston garden oaks