SPOKANE, Wash. — The family of a 49-year-old woman who was found dead in Valleyford earlier this month is sharing her story in hopes it can somehow help someone else. The cause and manner of Jannell Martensen’s death remains pending at the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office.
“I know it’s not fair,” said Alisha Galbreth, Martensen’s cousin. “She didn’t deserve that. She was probably so scared, and no one came for her.”
Jannell Martensen was mentioned in court records related to a north Spokane double murder investigation. A court document filed in Spokane County says 25-year-old Brandon Kenny admitted to killing Kiara Morgan-Weiland and Colton Russell.
Those same documents state Kenny told investigators that Russell admitted he had accidentally killed Jannell Martensen in November. Kenny claimed Russell put a gun in his mouth and told him to help move Martensen’s body. Records state Kenny told SPD, Russell said he was worried about Kenny talking to police about Martensen’s death. Kenny is accused of then shooting Russell to death and stabbing Morgan-Weiland more than 50 times.
Galbreth says Martensen and Russell had dated off and on for about seven years. She says when no one could get a hold of back in November, she confronted him.
“He looked like he wanted to kill me,” she said. “He looked so gray and mad….I went to his house. He kept his head down like this.”
She says Martensen wasn’t there, but her phone was.
“She would have never missed Thanksgiving or any holidays,” she said.
Her family says no one had heard from Martensen since she claimed she and Russell were going camping.
“It was very strange,” she said. “I’ve never heard of them going camping…and in November. That’s weird.”
She says it was many things odd over the years in their relationship.
“But she loved him a lot, and I don’t know why,” Galbreth said. “He had this hold over her.”
She says her cousin was kind, generous and loved her family. She was a mother, a grandmother and a dear friend to many. Galbreth wants Martensen remembered for the way she lived and not just the way she died.
“Janelle was a good person,” she said. “She had a good heart.”
So good in fact that her cousin fears she was forgiving to a fault, and urges anyone out there in any kind of relationship where they feel uncomfortable to get help.
“I hope a young girl sees this, or not even a young girl, women, children, anyone in a DV situation reaches out for help now after seeing this,” she said.
Again, it’s unknown how Martensen died. SPD couldn’t comment further as the investigation into what happened to her remains very active.
