ABERDEEN, MD – A recent case has ignited a fierce debate about student safety and inter-agency communication in Maryland, as it was revealed that a murder suspect was allowed to attend a public high school while under investigation.
The controversy centers around the tragic death of 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton, who was murdered on July 27, 2022. The primary suspect, identified as 16-year-old Walter Martinez, was an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador with alleged ties to the MS-13 gang.
“It’s the worst pain that a parent can ever experience,” said Tammy Nobles, Hamilton’s mother, in an exclusive interview. “She was just found with a cord wrapped around her neck and her mouth. Then just left her on the floor, like trash.”
According to law enforcement sources, Martinez entered the United States illegally in March 2022 as an unaccompanied minor. He was apprehended by Border Patrol in Texas and subsequently sent to live with a sponsor in Maryland. By July, he had moved to a mobile home in Aberdeen, where the murder took place.
The Aberdeen Police Department quickly identified Martinez as a primary suspect. Detectives had surveillance video and an audio recording placing him at the scene of the crime. However, while waiting for DNA test results, which took six months to process, Martinez was placed in foster care and enrolled at Edgewood High School in Harford County.
This decision has sparked outrage among parents and community members. “You’re sitting there putting this monster into high school with other people’s children, and you’re putting children at risk,” Nobles stated emphatically.
Harford County Public Schools defended their actions in a statement, saying, “There was no information in our possession that would suggest he was a danger to other students and staff. HCPS is not afforded unfettered access to information held by law enforcement which may suggest that a potential student is dangerous, gang-affiliated, or suspected of heinous and disturbing crimes.”
The case has brought to light potential gaps in communication between various agencies. Despite involvement from the Aberdeen Police Department, Maryland State Police, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Child Protective Services, the school was not informed about Martinez’s status as a murder suspect.
Nobles is now advocating for policy changes. “We need to change the laws,” she insisted. “If you’re a suspect, the main suspect of a felony, you should not be able to attend school with other children. They have virtual school and computers.”
The incident has raised broader questions about school safety protocols, policies regarding undocumented minors, and the balance between the presumption of innocence and public safety.
In January 2023, DNA results confirmed Martinez’s involvement in Hamilton’s murder, leading to his arrest. He pleaded guilty in August 2024 and was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
As the community grapples with the implications of this case, many are calling for a review of current policies and improved communication between law enforcement and educational institutions. The tragic story of Kayla Hamilton serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when systems designed to protect the public fail to adequately share crucial information.
Local officials have promised a thorough review of the incident, but for Nobles and other concerned parents, the changes can’t come soon enough. “I want to make sure that it doesn’t happen to someone else,” Nobles said. “People need to know what actually happened and what is going on. Her death is not going to be in vain.”
As this story continues to unfold, it will undoubtedly fuel ongoing discussions about school safety, immigration policies, and inter-agency cooperation in Maryland and beyond.
Fox 45 Project Baltimore contributed to this story.