Steven Martinez, a 51-year-old Hispanic man, was found shot to death inside his apartment at Grand Pointe Apartments in the Millenia area of Orlando on May 7, 2014. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office were alerted around 8:30 p.m. to a possible death at the location and began investigating the shooting.

Investigators identified Martinez’s son-in-law, 27-year-old William Tarlbert, as the primary suspect. Tarlbert admitted to a physical altercation with Martinez earlier that day, around 10:30 a.m., and Martinez’s daughter, who was present, reported hearing gunshots before leaving the apartment. Tarlbert was arrested and charged with first-degree murder; the prosecution characterized the killing as premeditated while the defense said the shooting resulted from an argument that escalated.

Witness testimony and forensic evidence featured prominently in the case.