San Juan Capistrano, California — A 31-year-old father was fatally stabbed while returning to his three young children after reportedly going to buy them drinks and snacks near a park in Orange County. His death has left his family devastated, with his fiancée now seeking answers as investigators work to determine who was responsible.
Valentin Onofre Martinez was walking back toward his children when he was stabbed multiple times near Calle Santa Barbara and Los Rios Street at around 8:10 p.m. on October 7, according to the reported account of the incident.
Emergency responders took Martinez to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office classified the stabbing as a homicide and assigned its Homicide and Gang Enforcement Team to investigate.
What Happened to Valentin Onofre Martinez?
Martinez had reportedly taken his children to a park before leaving to get drinks and snacks for them at a nearby store. He was on his way back when the fatal stabbing occurred in the San Juan Capistrano neighborhood.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear. Authorities detained several people at the scene, but no arrests had been announced in the information provided about the case.
Investigators are working to establish what happened before the stabbing, identify the person or people responsible and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the violence.
The sheriff’s office has not publicly confirmed a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Fiancée Recalls Rushing to the Scene
Martinez’s fiancée, Mia, said she began to fear something was wrong after hearing sirens in the distance and receiving a phone call. She rushed to the location, hoping to understand what had happened.
By the time she arrived, the area had been secured by police.
“When I got here, everything was already completely blocked off with the caution tape. Hundreds of police,” she told ABC 7.
Mia then learned that her fiancé had died. She was left with the heartbreaking responsibility of telling their children that their father would not be coming home. The family is now facing life without a father who, according to Mia, played an active role in the children’s everyday lives.
“They just keep asking for their dad. When is daddy coming back? And I just have to keep telling them that he’s not coming back,” she said.
Three Young Children Left Asking for Their Father
Martinez was the father of three children, ages 3, 5 and 7. Mia described him as a dedicated parent who consistently made time for his children while also working to support his family.
She said Martinez worked nights at Home Depot but continued to get up to take his children to school and pick them up.
“A father that was there every day of his kids life. He never missed a day. He took them to school, picked them up, went to work. He worked at Home Depot nights and still got up to take his kids to school,” Mia said.
His family described him as a hardworking man whose daily routine centered on caring for his children.
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Martinez’s mother also spoke about his commitment to his family in a fundraising appeal organized to help cover his funeral expenses.
“He was a hardworking man, and he took so much care of his family,” she said in the fundraiser.
Family Pushes Back Against Gang-Related Speculation
Mia has also challenged suggestions that the killing was connected to gang activity. She said she did not believe her fiancé was involved in gangs and wanted the circumstances of his death to be understood accurately.
“They’re trying to paint this as something that it’s not, which is gang-related. And if it is then it’s only on one side and it’s not his side,” she said.
Her comments reflect the family’s concerns about how Martinez’s death is being characterized while investigators continue working to establish the facts.
Authorities have not publicly established a motive in the information provided, and the sheriff’s office investigation will be central to determining what led to the stabbing.
Mia said she needs answers to help her and the children begin to process their loss.
“I need the answers because I’m just not going to be able to move past it and find closure or anything until I have all the answers and for them as well because they’re going to need answers too,” she said.
Fundraiser Launched for Funeral Expenses
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help cover Martinez’s funeral expenses, with a fundraising goal of $15,000.
The effort comes as his loved ones face the emotional and practical challenges that follow an unexpected death. For Mia and the children, the loss also means adjusting to life without someone she described as a constant presence in their daily routine.
The investigation into Martinez’s killing remains ongoing. Several people were detained at the scene, but no arrests had been reported in the available account.
What happened to Valentin Onofre Martinez remains a question his family desperately wants answered. Share your thoughts in the comments, and keep his three young children and grieving family in mind as they navigate this devastating loss.
