Police searching for murder victim’s 5-year-old son

CORTEZ, Colo. (KREX) — The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a 5-year-old boy whose mother was murdered on July 2.

Helliono Martinez was last seen with his father, Charles Martinez, 43, on July 16 before a missing child alert was issued two days later. The father and son were last seen in a gold 2011 Dodge Ram driving to the father’s home on Highway 160 in Cortez.

Investigators located the truck but did not find Helliono or Charles inside.

Anyone who sees either of them is asked not to approach them but to immediately call 911 or the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office at 970-565-8452.

Helliono’s mother, Chrystal Snow, was found shot to death in her home the morning of July 2 after a 911 call was made from her Pagosa Springs home. Investigators found Helliono alive with his aunt in Cortez later that day.

The CBI has not released the name of anyone believed to be connected with Snow’s murder.

The same day Helliono was last seen, the Colorado Department of Human Services obtained a court order granting the state of Colorado temporary custody of the child.

According to the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, “concerns are growing regarding the boy’s well-being and law enforcement is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Helliono Martinez.”

Helliono was described as being of Hispanic descent with brown hair and hazel eyes. He is 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 75 pounds. Charles was described as being of Hispanic descent with brown hair, brown eyes, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds.