A strange case involving the kidnapping of a local man three years ago was partially settled last week, after one of the perpetrators was sentenced to 12-years in prison. The case was investigated by Smithville Police, who say the victim of the crime was reluctant to come forward.
According to Smithville Police Lieutenant Detective James Cornelius, on July 9, 2020, 22-year-old Anthony Emmanuel Hernandez, and another man, 42-year-old Larry Payne, Jr., allegedly robbed, beat, and kidnapped Terrance Martin of Smithville.
“We (SPD) were called to a residence at 402 South Mountain Street by Christina Mayo, who said she was asked by her boyfriend, Payne, to go clean up the house. When we (police) arrived no one was there. We later learned that the renters of the home were in jail at the time, but that their friends, including Payne and Mayo, had access and used the residence as a hangout place.”
“During the investigation, Mayo said she had been at the residence at 402 South Mountain Street earlier that night (July 9 and prior to the attack on Martin), but that she had been contacted by Payne and told to leave. Sometime after she left, Mayo said Payne called for her to return to the home to clean it up.”
According to authorities, the following day an investigation began and a search warrant was issued to enter the home. Inside, police say the home was in disarray and blood was apparent on the floor, couch and an outside door post.
Detective Cornelius said that as the investigation was underway, a man showed up at the department to report that his car had been stolen. “Terrance Martin showed up at police department to report his vehicle had been stolen from that location (402 South Mountain Street). Although we later learned from him that he had been the victim of the attack, Martin initially didn’t want to talk about anything but the theft of his car, a white 2015 Buick Lacrosse.”
Cornelius said that Martin was reluctant to talk about the crime, but after driving around with him in his car, he eventually spoke about what had occurred. “He said that he had met Hernandez and Payne the night of July 9 at Colonial Properties (formerly Short Mountain Villages) and that they attacked him as he approached them in the driveway.”
“Martin said his assailants then forced him into the trunk of his car and drove to 402 South Mountain Street, where they got Martin out of the trunk and brought him into the living room of the residence. They then took his money and phone, pistol whipped him in the head, put a bag over his head, and tied him up by the wrists before again putting him in the trunk of the car and driving outbound on West Broad Street.”
Police say that around midnight, Martin was able to break free and jump out of the trunk as the car passed West Broad Street, near Wilson Bank and Trust. Authorities say that video surveillance at local businesses confirmed Martin’s story. After getting out of the trunk, Hernandez and Payne could be seen driving back and searching for Martin. Martin was able to walk to the hospital where he called for his girlfriend to come pick him up. He later returned to the hospital for treatment before going to the police department. Martin’s car was later found abandoned on Holmes Creek Road.
“We (police) later contacted Hernandez and he gave a statement after which he was released. When we got more information, we took warrants on both Hernandez and Payne. While trying to serve the warrants, we learned that Hernandez had left the state. We put out the information and found that he was at the home of his grandfather in Seguin, Texas. I reached out to the police department there and they picked him up. Sergeant Will Judkins and I later went there to bring Hernandez back here,” said Lt. Detective Cornelius.
Hernandez was originally charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and theft over $2,500, but entered a plea to a charge of aggravated kidnapping and received a 12-year prison sentence to serve at 100 percent. He was given jail credit from October 29, 2020 to May 1, 2023.
Payne was charged with the same offenses as Hernandez along with the charge of aggravated assault and violation of probation. He was served with the warrants against him in Putnam County where he was wanted for probation violation. He is now in prison in the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex for felony offenses committed in Putnam and Shelby Counties. The cases against Payne remains pending.
