Young South Valley man arrested for stabbing Porterville resident to death, police say

A South Valley man was arrested for the alleged stabbing and killing of a man in Porterville, police said.

Jarod Martinez, 19-year-old from Visalia, was arrested for murder charges.

According to Porterville Police Department, officers received a phone call just before 2 a.m. Wednesday from a 44-year-old man who told officer he had been stabbed in the area of Morton Avenue and Highway 65.

Officers arrived and found the victim with multiple stab wounds to his neck and torso area.

The victim was taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

After an investigation, officers contacted Martinez, who had rented a room at a nearby Motel 6.

Officers said Martinez had injuries that looked like they came from a recent physical altercation. After speaking with him and several witnesses, Martinez was placed under arrest for murder.

Detectives served a search warrant that revealed addition evidence to the murder.

Martinez was booked in the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department for murder and is being held without bail. The victim’s identity has not been made available at this time

Porterville police are urging anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation to call Detective Maria Aguillon at 559-782-7411.