Local man charged with murder following double fatality

James Garner and Juanita Ramirez were killed in car accident.

Mike Martin, 25, of Mountain Home, has been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder following an accident early Sunday morning that left two people dead.

After what was described by the Elmore County Sheriff's Office as a "complex" investigation into the crash, Martin was arrested early Monday evening and was being held in the new Elmore County Jail at press time.

Authorities allege that Martin deliberately ran a vehicle containing four people off the road near the intersection of Aguirre and Hilliard roads just south of Mountain Home, killing Juanita Ramirez, 22, of Mountain Home, formerly of Grand View, and James Garner, 25, also of Mountain Home. The fatal accident occurred at 3:48 a.m. Sunday morning.

Two passengers in the vehicle driven by Ramirez survived the crash, and it was their testimony to investigators that led to Martin's arrest.

"This is just a tragedy all around," said Detective Capt. Mike Barclay of the Elmore County Sheriff's Office. "They were all friends," he said, referring to both Martin and the victims. He added that alcohol was a major factor in the incident.

Authorities allege that after partying at a local bar Saturday night, the group went to the home just south of town which Martin and his girlfriend, Britta Shannon, 20, share with the couple's children, and more alcohol was consumed.

At some point later that evening Martin and Shannon got into an argument, authorities believe. Shannon then left the residence, getting into a silver Honda Civic being driven by Ramirez. Garner, and another passenger, Troy Tursion, also were in the vehicle.

As Ramirez drove away toward town, authorities allege, Martin got in his car and began chasing them. Near the intersection of Aguirre and Hilliard roads, the surviving witnesses told investigators Martin used his vehicle to strike the Ramirez vehicle, causing Ramirez to lose control of the Honda Civic, sending it off the road, where it rolled over and came to rest in a nearby field.

Shannon was the only person in the Civic wearing a seat belt. Garner was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Ramirez was transported to Elmore Medical Center where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Shannon and Tursion also were transported to the hospital where they were treated for their injuries and later released.

Barclay said all five of the individuals involved in the accident were legally drunk. He said initial indications are that the accident did not involve a high rate of speed, but the Idaho State Police Accident Reconstruction Team will be determining those details, when the ISP phase of the investigation is completed.

The Idaho State Police launched the initial phase of the crash investigation, but by Monday the Elmore County Sheriff's Department had assumed control of the criminal phase of the incident.

There had been some reports that Martin had a temper, but Barclay said he had known the young man for years and was not aware that he had that kind of reputation. At the same time, he said, authorities had been to the Martin/Shannon residence previously to deal with domestic dispute issues.

Barclay said Martin initially left the scene of the accident, but returned. At that time he complained of some injuries sustained in the accident, and was taken to Elmore Medical Center by sheriff's deputies, where he was treated and released.

He was not arrested at that time.

"We wanted to make sure we had all the facts," Barclay said, after a day of interviewing witnesses. Late Monday authorities picked him up and formally charged him with two counts of second degree murder, alleging that by running into the Honda he was directly responsible for the deaths of Ramirez and Garner.

"We preach about it all the time," Barclay said of the dangers of alcohol and driving, "but until you see the devastation caused by an alcohol-involved crash, no one can fully understand the anguish and the impact on the families of the victims."

Barclay said the investigation was continuing and he expected the ISP Accident Reconstruction Team to return to the scene again later this week and complete its phase of the investigation within the next week to ten days.

Martin was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday but at press time, no details on bond or the date of a preliminary hearing were available.