A man who was a fugitive in the killing of his former girlfriend for nearly 30 years was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday.
Francisco Martinez, now 53, was just 25 years old when he fatally stabbed Patricia Boney in front of the couples 1½-year-old son Feb. 25, 1994.
Martinez had gone to Boney's Buena Borough home in an attempt to reunite. When he was turned down, he stabbed Boney more than 17 times.
The woman's 9- and 11-year old children found her lying in bed with their baby brother covered in blood, and called police.
Boney was able to tell police Martinez stabbed her before succumbing to her injuries.
An autopsy found multiple defensive wounds to her arms and hands, along with a 4½-inch wound that penetrated her heart.
Martinez fled in the victim's 1982 Camaro, which was found March 8, 1994, in Houston, Texas.
From there, it's believed Martinez crossed the border to Mexico, where he lived for more than a quarter-century.
He remained one of the state’s most wanted fugitives and was once featured on “America’s Most Wanted.”
Martinez was arrested in October 2021, after lead Detective Anthony Branca was able to locate him in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. He had a 7 year old child.
He pleaded guilty in April, but tried to take back that plea Monday. The attempt was rejected.
Martinez will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility until he is transferred to state prison.
