Woodburn man sentenced to 15 years for killing woman found in Salem hotel in 2023
A Woodburn man was sentenced to spend 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing a young woman found dead in a northeast Salem hotel two years ago.
Raul S. Martinez, 25, pleaded guilty July 21 to first-degree manslaughter for the shooting death of Janet Ramos-Hernandez, 22, of Gresham, in August 2023, according to court records. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon.
Marion County Circuit Court Judge Audrey Broyles on Thursday sentenced Martinez to 15 years in prison for manslaughter and five years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the sentencing document. The sentences will be served concurrently.
He was also sentenced to three years of post-prison supervision.
A friend found Ramos-Hernandez dead in a room at the Shilo Inn on Northeast Market Street on Aug. 19, 2023. The friend then called police, according to a memorandum filed by Martinez’s attorney.
The call came in as a “CPR call” to police at 6:35 a.m., according to Salem Reporter’s previous coverage.
Martinez’s lawyer said he acted in self defense when he shot Ramos-Hernandez because she shouted threats at him and threatened him with a firearm, the memorandum said. Autopsy findings determined Ramos-Hernandez had ingested cocaine before her death, which Martinez’s lawyer argued caused her to act in a way that made Martinez fear for his life.
Martinez surrendered to local authorities Sept. 19, 2023, after turning himself in at the Marion County Jail for the shooting, the Salem Police Department said at the time.
He was lodged in jail for second-degree murder with a firearm, possessing a weapon as a felon and a parole violation, Salem Reporter previously reported.
He is still in custody at the Marion County Jail, the jail roster shows.
Martinez pleaded guilty in 2020 to strangulation, third-degree robbery and fourth-degree assault, according to Marion County Circuit Court records.
He strangled a pregnant person in front of a child while committing theft, he said in his guilty plea petition.
A judge sentenced him to three years of probation, which was revoked in September 2022, court records show. Martinez was then sentenced to six months in prison.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Woodburn man charged with murder of woman found dead at Salem motel
Gresham woman’s death at NE Salem hotel prompts homicide investigation
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and reports on a variety of topics including public safety, addiction, treatment and the criminal justice system. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
