US News

Mom of DC stabbing victim forgives daughter’s alleged killer

Wendy Martinez, 35, was out for a jog in her Logan Circle neighborhood on Tuesday night when she was stabbed seven times in the head, neck and back, allegedly by suspect Anthony Marquell Crawford, 23, police said.

Somehow, grieving mother Cora Martinez said she can’t hate her daughter’s accused killer, saying: “My heart has been broken into 1,000 pieces, but I forgive that man.”

“I feel relieved, in peace,” Cora Martinez told mourners at a candlelight vigil for her daughter.

“I have forgiven him completely. My heart has no room for hate, resentfulness. So, I just said, ‘We believe in the greatest judge, the ultimate person that is going to give what is deserved.’ So, I am asking my family to do the same. Just let it go. Wendy is happy, she is in peace.”

The victim had recently become engaged, leading to joyful mother-and-daughter searches for the perfect wedding dress.

“She was very excited when she found out she was going to be engaged. So, as soon as she had the engagement ring, she let me know. She said, ‘Mom!! Look at this! I got it!’ I said, ‘No, you got him,'” Cora Martinez said.

“Wendy lived the happiest seven days of her life. She was in the happiest moment.”

They were planning for two weddings — one in the States and the other in their native Colombia.

“When I saw her in that dress, I never figured … that was the dress for her burial,” Cora Martinez said.

Wendy Martinez worked for FiscalNote, a Washington-based software, data and media startup.