Nevada Father Throws 7-Week-Old Daughter from Balcony During Explosive ‘Cheating’ Fight

A Nevada judge has sentenced Clarence Martin Jr., 37, to life in prison for the horrific 2020 killing of his two-month-old daughter, London. Martin threw the infant from a second-story balcony, set fire to his apartment, and killed his fiancée’s dog in a nightmarish sequence of events.

District Judge Carli Kierny delivered the life sentence, allowing for parole only after 49 and a half years. Martin’s defense argued he was suffering from a mental health crisis at the time, but the prosecution emphasized the irreversible harm caused by his actions.

The tragedy unfolded in October 2020, when Martin’s fiancée, Nicole, called 911 at 3:40 a.m., reporting that he had thrown their baby from the second-floor balcony. According to the arrest report, Nicole said Martin took the infant and returned moments later without her. Nicole ran downstairs and found London on the ground, unresponsive. Despite a neighbor’s attempts to perform CPR, the baby was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Witnesses described seeing Martin leaving the apartment, shouting, “Burn, (expletive), burn. This is what you get for cheating on me.” Inside, he had set fire to the living room. Firefighters found Nicole’s dog dead in a cage, likely from smoke and heat exposure. The fire forced the evacuation of seven nearby apartments, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Martin fled the scene, damaging two vehicles before being apprehended at the airport. There, he crawled into a secure area via a luggage conveyor belt, donned a TSA officer’s shirt and safety vest, and was eventually detained near the tarmac. Authorities reported hearing him shout, “Burn, (expletive). Jefferys Street, Jefferys Street.”

Nicole revealed that Martin, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had displayed erratic behavior in the three days leading up to the murder. She recounted waking up to Martin kicking her and the baby before he snatched their daughter during her attempt to escape, according to Fox. 

Martin was convicted in October 2023 of 13 charges, including first-degree arson, child abuse resulting in substantial bodily harm, and multiple counts of battery and attempted murder. Chief Deputy District Attorney Parker Brooks acknowledged Martin’s mental health struggles but urged the court to focus on the victims.

Judge Kierny expressed her horror, stating, “This is the worst case I’ve ever seen. It boggles my mind.” Martin’s life sentence underscores the devastating consequences of his actions and the lasting impact on those affected.