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Malmberg: 'I just killed my daughter'
Taped confession to police played in court
Updated: Tuesday, 30 Mar 2010, 6:32 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 30 Mar 2010, 1:54 PM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The man accused of killing 2-year-old Jozlynn Martinez said he was trying to stop her from crying, hitting and kicking him.
At Jeffrey Malmberg's preliminary exam on Tuesday, prosecuting attorney Chris Beckett played a recording of Malmberg's confession to a Grand Rapids police detective.
Play the video above to listen to Malmberg's confession; WARNING: audio contains uncensored language
"I just killed my daughter," Malmberg told the detective.
Malmberg said he put his knee on Jozlynn's chest to stop her from screaming and hitting him Feb. 22 at the girl's home on Grand Rapids' northwest side.
"She just started kicking and screaming, laid on her back kicking and screaming," Malmberg said.
He told the detective he added pressure for around 45 seconds and said the girl stopped breathing.
"She just started gasping for air and her breathing slowed down."
He then told the detective he put Jozlynn in her bed.
When he realized the girl wasn't breathing, Malmberg told the detective he placed the child in a trash bag and disposed her body.
Malmberg said he was scared.
The 40-year-old is charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence for tossing Jozlynn's body in a Dumpster and larceny for stealing $2,800 from the girl's mother.
At the court hearing on Tuesday, five witnesses were called to the stand -- Jozlynn's mother, Consuela Martinez; two other people who lived at the home with Jozlynn and Consuela; a Grand Rapids police detective; and a Child Protective Services employee.
The judge ruled enough evidence was presented in court to send Malmberg to trial for the murder charge.
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