Thomas Martinez Jr, 40

Coralville, Iowa
July 24, 2013

Agencies: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation DPS DCI | Coralville Police Department Iowa

Cause of death: Taser

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

The mother of the man who died after Coralville police used a Taser to subdue him in 2013 said she thinks the Johnson County attorney is delaying her investigation into the incident to prevent a lawsuit.

July 23 will mark two years since Thomas Martinez Jr., 40, was pronounced dead at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and an investigation into his death by county attorney Janet Lyness is still ongoing. When asked this week about the reason for the delay, Lyness said it is a matter of “just getting me the time to finish it.”

Martinez’s mother, Martha McKee of Apache Junction, Ariz., however, said she believes Lyness has intentionally held her son’s case open as a procedural move to possibly prevent or discourage litigation.