Announcement was made on Wednesday by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office stating that Marisa Utterback of Fremont, a 30-year-old suspect, has had charges filed against her in connection with the death of Yashua Martinez in September of 2022.
Yashua Martinez, a 27-year-old male from La Vista, was discovered deceased on Highway 275 south of Morningside Road near Fremont.
The Dodge County Attorney’s Office has brought charges against Utterback including manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid, tampering with evidence, and a number of other traffic violations.
The investigation was carried out by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Nebraska State Patrol, Fremont Police Department, and La Vista Police. Utterback was detained in March 2023 and accused of murder, reckless driving, and other accident-related charges in connection with Martinez’s death.
Marisa Utterback Apprehended For Killing Yashua Martinez
On September 22, 2022, building crews found an unidentified male body on Highway 275 near Morningside Road.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office was notified and shut down the highway for roughly seven hours for the investigation, along with the Douglas County Crime Lab. It was concluded that the man had perished due to a vehicle collision, and the body was identified two days later as 27-year-old Yashya Martinez of La Vista.
The investigation revealed that Martinez’s body was probable on the road for at least four days. Lab specialists discovered sizable silver car segments at the scene and a silver paint chip on the victim’s shoe.
As per a search warrant, investigators found a silver Jeep at a local body shop. The owner of the Jeep, Marisa Utterback, claimed that she struck a deer on September 19 and took the SUV to the body shop.
However, investigators noted that the damage did not match a car-deer collision, and the car segments found on the crime scene were absent. Utterback’s neighbor remembered seeing the silver Jeep in her driveway on September 18, with damage to the front and windshield, and blood on the vehicle.
As a consequence of the investigation, Utterback was detained for the hit-and-run killing of Martinez. The Fremont woman was responsible for the motor vehicle homicide of the La Vista man in September 2022.
According to the Dodge County Attorney’s Office, Utterback faces five felony charges, including murder, reckless driving, failing to render aid, leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with evidence, and other traffic violations.
The charges brought against Utterback were the result of an extensive investigation carried out by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Nebraska State Patrol, Fremont Police Department, and La Vista Police.
The investigation involved examining evidence from the crime scene, including car segments, paint chips, and DNA samples, as well as interviewing witnesses and conducting searches of Utterback’s property.
Utterback’s arrest brings some closure to Martinez’s family, who have been awaiting justice since his death. The case emphasizes the importance of responsible driving and the devastating consequences of hit-and-run accidents.
It also serves as a reminder that law enforcement agencies are committed to holding those accountable for such crimes, regardless of the time it takes to bring them to justice.
Is Marisa Utterback Still In Jail?
Marisa Utterback, who was detained for the hit-and-run killing of Yashya Martinez, has been released on bail after paying 10% of the $250,000 bond.
The 30-year-old Fremont woman faces charges of insurance fraud for submitting a false claim that she struck a deer. Furthermore, authorities have confiscated Utterback’s cell phone to trace its location at the time of the incident. The trial for Martinez’s murder is scheduled for a later date.
