Custody disputes and death threats preceded the death of the Pagosa Springs mother

According to an affidavit filed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a Pagosa Springs mother told her ex that she was seeking sole custody of her child hours before the former couple's husband and other son drove from Cortez and shot her.

Chrystal Snow, 38, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in her Pagosa Springs home in the 1000 block of County Road 700 in the early morning hours of July 2.

Her ex, 43-year-old Charles Martinez, and her 17-year-old son, Hevon Martinez, were arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in her death.

According to court documents, Snow was granted a permanent restraining order against Charles Martinez in June after she accused him of verbally abusing, intimidating and harassing her during their 18-year relationship and threatening to kill her when she attempted to die in October 2023 to end relationship.

Snow also filed a restraining order against Hevon Martinez in October 2023, claiming he physically abused her.

Archuleta County sheriff's deputies responded to Snow's home around 2:30 a.m. after someone called 911 from Snow's phone. According to the arrest affidavit, no one spoke during the call and dispatchers could only hear difficulty breathing.

Officers determined someone had shot through the front window and back door of the home and found Snow dead in the bathroom, her phone nearby.

Investigators later determined that Charles Martinez had used a parent communication app the day before to try to convince Snow not to seek sole custody of their youngest son. According to the affidavit, Hevon Martinez also called Snow to convince her not to seek sole custody of his brother.

Police also found surveillance video that showed Charles and Hevon Martinez in a white Ford Explorer driving from Cortez toward Pagosa Springs shortly before Snow's death, removing the vehicle's license plates to avoid detection by a highway license plate reader escape, and either turned off their phones or left them at home.

Several people interviewed by police also said Snow was afraid that Charles Martinez would kill her, and a victim advocate told investigators, “Chrystal told her that Charles said he would come in the middle of the night to kill her.” , and that a protection order is just a…”piece of paper.”