Five years later, Beloved Doe gets justice

After waiting five years to identify the little body of a child found in a dumpster in Houston, police say they now know who the child was- and how his life was cut short, and his body tossed out as if it was nothing more than trash.

"Beloved Doe" was 5-year-old Jose Bernardo Martinez. He was found in a Dumpster at the Willowcreek Apartments on Office City Drive on March 13, 2003.

FBI officials said Jose had been wrapped in a gray blanket and placed in a plastic bag. He was wearing only a diaper.

His 30-year-old mother, Ma Dana Martinez, was charged with felony murder -- injury to a child by omission, officials said.

Jose died from dehydration and malnutrition, an autopsy ruled. He weighed between 18 and 28 pounds at the time of his death.

The little boys father, who is not with the mother, was evidently told that his son was ill, and had been in a hospital getting treatment, with a limited visitation schedule.

Investigators said Martinez gave a partial confession. They said Jose was singled out from other children in the family because of an illness and was allowed to starve to death.

"I can't explain why that happened," Moreno said.

Martinez told investigators that Jose's illness required him to have a feeding tube. Detectives said Martinez tried to justify her son's death, but did not elaborate.

Officials do not yet know Jose's illness.

Besides the malnutrition, there were no other signs of abuse or injuries.

I don't care what sort of illness a child has- allowing them to starve to death, and then tossing them aside as if they were nothing is never an acceptable way to deal with it. This woman is sick, but the sort that requires mental help- a lifetime in prison should be treatment enough.